For the first time, cross country had their very own Senior Night, organized by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. In previous years, the cross country seniors were celebrated alongside track and field during one collective ceremony at the end of the year. This year, however, SAAC organized a ceremony to celebrate cross country on their own during the women’s soccer game against Hiram College. 

Fourth-year Margo Lee, who has been running track since she was five years old, expressed how personal this ceremony felt. 

“Definitely sad,” Lee said. “I have been playing at Oberlin for only two seasons, and I think that has made it especially personal. Wednesday was Senior Night, then we had our conference Saturday, which made me super aware going into Senior Night — like, I’m a senior and it’s my last one. But yeah, I’m feeling good.” 

Lee had the unique experience of being a transfer student-athlete, which has impacted her experience at Oberlin. When asked how her experience may have been different if she hadn’t joined cross country, she explained that her team served to ease the anxiety that came along with transferring. 

“I honestly can’t imagine my time as a transfer student at Oberlin without being on the cross country and track teams,” Lee said. “Transferring to a small school, especially halfway through an academic year, is such a scary thing to do, and I feel so grateful that I was greeted by a group of wonderful people who quickly became my closest friends.”  

Each senior expressed how different this year was compared to previous years playing their sport. Lee notes how this year she felt acutely aware of the fact that she is graduating in the spring.

“As a result, I am intentional about being present, definitely more so than in my previous year and a half at Oberlin,” Lee said. “I’m definitely emotional about having limited time to be a part of something so incredible as Oberlin cross country and track and field, so I try to soak up every moment, whether I’m in the middle of a tough workout, writing mantras on my teammates’ arms before a race, or walking with teammates from the locker room to [Stevenson Dining Hall] for dinner.” 

This past weekend, the cross country team participated in their first round of conference meets hosted at Denison College. Despite the meet being two hours away, they were greeted by 20 of their fellow track teammates who carpooled to cheer the team across the finish line. Lee described the comfort this brought her, making the away meet feel like home. 

“Our coach, Ray Appenheimer, often talks to us about the importance of making every meet feel like a home meet, and our team made sure that happened last weekend,” Lee said. “Throughout most of the race, I could hear my teammates cheering, and that energy gave me strength and pushed me forward. Perhaps most notably, they delivered a Yeo Baby cheer that I could hear for an entire mile.”

The cross country team is known for their exceptional spirit on the course. Lee highlighted how Oberlin was the only team who was covered in glitter and mantras they had written on each other in Sharpie. 

“I’ll write like ‘I’m strong,’ ‘I’m fearless,’ ‘I’m great,’ that kind of thing,” Lee said. “This weekend I wrote, ‘For the love of OCXC, OBLITERATE YOURSELF’ and I think that kind of thing lightens the mood. It’s like, I’m about to endure 20 more minutes of being drenched — but [I’m] having fun.”

Hunter Wilson, a fourth-year on the football team, emphasized hoWw rejuvenating his last season has been with new head coach John Pont. Wilson described the end to his football career as bittersweet.

“I would say that being with the guys for so long and growing such a strong bond with them has meant a lot for me,” Wilson said. “And it has really brightened my experience at Oberlin. But now that it’s coming to the end, knowing that I’m not going to be able to see them as much and interact with them and get to do all the things that I was doing like practice in the morning, lift, things like that — that’s gonna hurt a little bit, but obviously I really enjoyed my experience, and spending time with my family on Senior Night meant a lot for me.”

When asked how this year’s Senior Night differed from previous years, Wilson emphasized the impact that Coach Pont has made on the team’s camaraderie. The team won 37–35 on home turf against Concordia University Chicago for the first time in four years. 

“So this season, under our new head coach, Coach Pont, I felt a greater sense of faith and camaraderie amongst our team as opposed to previous seasons, when there was a lot more negativity in our program,” Wilson said. “Whereas this year, you know, when things have gotten difficult, we’ve all maintained positivity, and we also were able to get a big win in our second week of the year, and the season is not over yet. So, we still have two more opportunities. So, you know, obviously we’re moving in the right direction. There’s a lot of growth from last season just in terms of the faith that people have in our team. That just continues to build.” 

Wilson expressed how the recognition he received during the ceremony brought him immense satisfaction. 

“I felt recognized, especially for my contributions to the team,” Wilson said. “I really cherish the discipline that being a collegiate athlete taught me. It required me to create a schedule. It required me to be on time and attend everything that I had set in my schedule and give it my full effort and ability, which I feel like moving on into post undergrad and my life taught me a lot of lessons that I can continue to maintain.” 

Field hockey competed in their Senior Night game on Saturday, putting up a strong fight against Allegheny College, but ultimately losing 1–0. For fourth-years Abbie Patchen and Dee Pegues, the celebration evoked many heartfelt emotions. 

“I was feeling super reflective and sad that this was my last year playing field hockey,” Pegues said. “I’ve put so much work into the sport for so long that it feels weird that it’s over. But that moment on the field surrounded with the best team in the world, I felt nothing but pride and happiness. I am so glad I could spend my last game with them.”

Similarly, Patchen explained how nervous she was for the last game of her career. 

“I was more nervous for that game than I probably had been for any game in my career,” Patchen said. “There’s a lot more pressure when it’s the last game and all of our families were there but once we started warming up it all went away and we were all just able to have fun and enjoy our last time playing together.” 

A common Senior Night tradition is for all non-seniors to decorate the locker rooms for the graduating class prior to game day. Pegues expressed how not participating in the decorating was particularly moving. 

“I think the biggest difference was not decorating the locker room,” Pegues said. “I remember spending hectic late nights decorating the locker room for previous seniors. It felt so weird being on the other side of that experience. I know it seems small, but not decorating the locker room really stuck out to me.” 

When asked what they’d miss most about the season, both players emphasized how the time they spent with their teammates meant the most to them. 

“What I’ll miss most is getting to see them at the end of every day,” Patchen said. “Getting to laugh with them, just while we practice. Sometimes school can be really stressful. But practice and playing feel like it’s a time where you get to be outside, run around, and spend time with all of my best friends.” 

“I’m going to miss the team so much,” Pegues said. “Not just interacting with the team, but also playing with them, especially the seniors. The seniors and the team have been the one constant in my four years at Oberlin, and seeing us all improve over the years has been so special to see. I’m going to miss playing with them so much.”

“It feels great,” fourth-year Ruby Schreiber said. “We haven’t had a lot of home games this year, so it was nice to see some success on our turf and having family and friends coming out to support in the lead up to the end of the season.” 

Transylvania dominated possession in the first quarter of the game but never managed to get past the Oberlin defense. In the second quarter, Transylvania continued to control possession, but Oberlin’s second-year goalkeeper Janny McCormick made three saves to keep the game level. The third quarter brought more action as the Yeowomen were more involved in the attack, getting a few shots into the area and some corner shots. Finally, in the fourth quarter, the team was able to get the draw to force the game into overtime to try and get the win there.

“It was definitely mentally tough; staying in the game for a full 60 minute regulation and 20 minute OT had its challenges.” Schreiber said. “By the time shootouts rolled around and the scoreboard could finally match the success we were seeing on the field, we were all feeling happy and relieved.”

The first shot of the penalty shootout resulted in the game-winning penalty scored by fourth-year Abbie Patchen, who shot the ball into the right side of the cage. 

“Everyone worked hard for 80 minutes to put me in a position to score the shootout.” Patchen said. “Luckily, our team has a lot of experience taking games to overtime and shootouts, so I have been in that position many times before. It is thrilling and such a relief to score when it is your turn to go 1 vs. 1 with the goalie.”

Second-year Elly Scheer spoke about how she played a critical role in the game as the shot leader for the team with two shots.

“Being the shot leader for this game is so exciting,” Scheer said. “As a defender, I don’t get a lot of chances to be able to take shots, and when I did get the chance to take the ball on the offensive side of the field, I tried my best to work as hard as I could for our team.” Scheer said. “Regardless of whether it was myself or another teammate, having shots on goal is always an impressive feat, and I am so proud of my entire team no matter what the statistics say.”

The team’s final game of the season will also be their Senior Day, which will celebrate the five seniors on the team.

“I definitely have mixed feelings about senior day,” Schreiber said. “While I’m excited to play with the team for one last time and celebrate the four other seniors and the hard work we have put in, I will be sad that my Oberlin field hockey career will come to a close. It’s been such an amazing four years with the team, and I will miss them dearly.”

The final field hockey game of the regular season will be against Allegheny College this Saturday at 4 p.m. on Bailey Field.

Despite the early losses, athletes and coaches agreed that there were several positives from the team’s showing over the weekend.

“I am happy with the team,” Head Coach Jess West said. “I’m happy with their presence — how they came in, how they were positive throughout the weekend. As a team, they do gel well. They have a lot of skills that work with each other.”

First-year forward Ava Leone, who picked up her first collegiate starts over the weekend, agreed that the team’s attitude and mentality were highlights from the tournament.

“I think everyone wants to be there,” Leone said. “Everyone’s excited, so there’s no doubt in commitment. Everyone works very hard as a team, we just need to be able to glue it together.”

Susan Robinson-Cloete, a fourth-year forward who has started 19 out of her 20 career matches, enjoyed the team’s showing over the weekend. She was impressed by the team’s spirit and resolve through the toughfought matches.

“I was just really proud of the way that everybody held their own,” she said. “I think there’s a lot of good determination on our team. Now we just need to start focusing in.”

Robinson-Cloete was also pleased with the attacking momentum she saw from the team in the first part of the match against Concordia.

“It was the most offensive movement we’ve seen this early in the season from our team,” Robinson-Cloete said. “The last time I played [Concordia] was one of the worst losses in our program’s history, and to have been competing with them the entire time yesterday and convert on a corner was just awesome.”

First-year defender Zoe Eisen also mentioned that the beginning of the Concordia game was a highlight for the team. “The beginning of the second game, we did really well, and we scored the first goal for that game,” Eisen said. The team is looking forward to improving communication and positioning in order to ensure the most success in upcoming matches.

“Our biggest thing is just continued communication,” West said. “Communication is something that has to be practiced. If you don’t practice it, it’s always going to be difficult.”

Leone also discussed how productive conversations on the field will help the team improve their connectedness and speed of play.

“I think [our] growth as a team is that we have to communicate more,” she said. “We have to figure out where is the ball, where is the split, open up our eyes and just see the field because we have the potential. It’s all in front of us. We just have to use it.”

Leone was also sure to mention how the team’s bond and support of one another has helped her individually transition to college, in spite of the challenges on the field.

“I fit right in in a way, and I feel like the players and the seniors are all so welcoming, and they make you feel like you’re at home,” Leone said. “I think our chemistry as a team is great. We have a good sense of who can play what and who does what, but it’s just the fact of connecting it all together that we need to work on.”

Robinson-Cloete agreed, adding that the first-year class also brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the team.

“They are so amazing and just really well-rounded,” she said. “I think each of them has individual strengths in terms of skills or how they are as teammates or the energy they bring to the team, and they all complement each other really well.”

Robinson-Cloete mentioned that since it was early in the season, the team is still getting used to positioning and working off one another. She was confident that as the season progresses, the positioning and chemistry of the team will improve, leading to positive outcomes.

“It’s pretty clear that everybody’s really intelligent and sees the moves they should be making,” she said. “Now it just comes to making sure we have enough practice playing in our positions.”

Altogether, West was confident that the team can overcome the challenges they faced over the weekend.

“It was simple little things that caused the goals that we can absolutely fix and move forward,” she said. “We just have some simple positional things that we need to continue to work on, which is to be expected.”

Robinson-Cloete talked about how the team has harnessed the underdog mentality this season.

“We’re underdogs in whatever space we step into. Whatever game we go into, we’re written off as an easy win,” Robinson-Cloete said. “It felt really good this weekend to score the first goal and have that mentality. If they want to write us off, it’ll just make the wins all that sweeter.”

Undeterred by the losses, the team is looking forward to competing in conference play. The team will take at Kenyon College Sept. 13 at Bailey Field at 7 p.m. The game can be streamed on Oberlin Sports Network.

The men’s cross country team, led by fourth-year captains Chase Sortor and Sam Russ, took home its first North Coast Athletic Conference Championship this season. To top off the championship win, Head Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Ray Appenheimer, Associate Head Cross Country Coach Izzy Alexander, and Volunteer Assistant Coach Anna Scott, OC ’22, took home NCAC Coaching Staff of the Year for the men’s division. Cross country now looks toward the NCAA Great Lakes Regional tournament and the NCAA Championships in the coming weeks. Fourth-years Niels Vanderloo and Sunniva Sheffield earned NCAC first-team honors, followed by fellow fourth-years Ross D’Orfani, Sam Russ, and Matthew Walton, third-year Eliza Medearis, second-years Walter Moak, Jonah Barber, and Sage Reddish earning NCAC second-team.

On the flip side, football’s performance has been disappointing, with a 0–9 record thus far. However, the Yeomen have had close, hard-fought battles against Kalamazoo College, Alvernia University, and Kenyon College. Notable performances came from the team captains: fourth-year and quarterback Chris Allen Jr., who threw 11 touchdowns with only eight interceptions, and fifth-year Brian Colarusso, who leads the team thus far in both receiving yards and touchdowns.

Although they began this season with 12 incoming first-years making up nearly half the team and a brand new head coach, women’s soccer has been another one of Oberlin Athletics’ bright spots this fall season, finishing with a winning record of 7–6–2. In the postseason, second-year Heather Benway was named NCAC’s Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Year, third-year Brynn Adams and second-year Sofia Mitchell earned NCAC second team honors, and second-year Zoe Garver earned third team honors.

“Starting a new season with a new coach is always a hard thing to settle into,” fourth-year midfielder Camille Franklin said. “[Head Women’s Soccer] Coach Taylor Houck made it a priority to make sure the team felt comfortable with her and with each other. [She] always told us that our greatest strength was the love we have for each other.”

Men’s soccer had an up and down season this fall, going 5–7–3 overall and 1–4–3 in conference games with well-earned draws against Denison University, DePauw University, and Wooster and a triumphant 5–1 victory against Hiram College. This team was spearheaded by experienced captains: fourth-year Jon Schafer, fourth-year Zack Butter, and second-year Anthony Pacewicz. Second-year Toby Wells-Zimmerman led the team with 16 points and 40 shots taken while tying for second in the NCAC with six assists, and Pacewicz came in clutch for the Yeomen, scoring two game-winners and putting up an additional goal and assist for seven points on the season. As a result, Pacewicz and Wells-Zimmerman earned NCAC second-team and third-team honors, respectively.

Field hockey has not seen copious amounts of success the last few years, but it banded together to win some crucial games this season, finishing with a 4–12 record, its best season since 2013. The team proved to be mentally tough, emerging victorious in both games this season that went to a penalty shootout, and third-year defender Abbie Patchen earned her NCAC third-team honors for the second year in a row.

“We have grown so much as a team,” fourth-year goalie Post said. “I think the biggest way is how we continue to treat each other with grace, motivate each other on and off the field, and push each other to be better athletes.”

Oberlin’s volleyball team, led by captains third-year Andréa Jones, third-year Taylor Gwynne, and fourth-year Zoe Kuzbari, started its fall season off well, winning six of their first seven games. However, the wheels fell off toward the end of the season, resulting in a 7–16 finish. Second-year Cami Sweet and fourth-year Iyanna Lewis also earned NCAC second and third-team honors for volleyball, respectively.

Although the team didn’t achieve all the results they hoped for, Jones highlighted the importance of the team’s culture and relationships.“I felt like we had a winning season within the improvement of our chemistry as a team, and I feel like that is the most important part of being on a team — making sure that every one of us has each other’s back as we go through the tough times as a team,” Jones said. “I have never felt more supported by a team that I call family.”

Although some teams, such as men’s and women’s soccer, who will have an abbreviated season this spring during which coaches will be able to return and work with their teams, and many cross country runners, who will transition to winter track, most are preparing to stay in shape for unofficial winter training, when they can receive no coaching per NCAA rules and regulations.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Courtesy of Lucas Draper

The Men’s soccer team honored seniors Jon Schafer, Alec Gembala, Jesper Soelvberg, and Zack Butter before kickoff.

In the past few weeks, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, and field hockey all paid homage to their graduating classes through senior night games.

The first honorees were men’s soccer fourth-years Jon Schafer, Alec Gembala, Jesper Soelvberg, and Zack Butter, who were all recognized prior to the team’s Oct. 19 match against Hiram College. The Yeomen sent them out in style with a dominant victory over the Terriers, recording a blowout score of 5–1. Goals were spread out evenly throughout the depth chart, with Schafer capitalizing off a corner for a remarkable header at the 55th minute mark and second-year Xander Francoeur putting in his seventh goal at the 72nd minute mark, the most made on the team this year.

For Gembala, the last game was a touching moment, but he was glad he celebrated with his teammates, especially since the four seniors had a lot of playing time together for their final game on Fred Shults Field.

“Having the guys on the soccer team has been great for me,” Gembala wrote in an email to the Review. “I don’t think my experience here would have been nearly as good without them. The last game of the season was pretty emotional, as soccer has been part of my entire life and even more important these past few years. I would say I am pretty lucky to have played this game and make the type of friends I have.”

A particular spotlight was cast on fourth-year Camille Franklin, the team’s only women’s soccer graduating member, during their matchup against Ohio Wesleyan University this past Saturday. Though the game ended in a tie, the Yeowomen put on a formidable performance against the Battling Bishops. As the night’s honoree, Franklin did not disappoint. The midfielder had a strong defensive performance and almost secured an Oberlin victory with a narrowly missed shot that bounced off the goal. Along with Franklin, third-year goalkeeper Benji Maddox put on a stellar showing, shutting the opposing offense out entirely in both halves. After Franklin’s final match, the team carried her above their heads with joy and celebrated the end of her collegiate career.

“I loved being a part of this team for four years,” she said. “There is something so special about Yeo Athletics. I have made so many amazing friendships while I was here, and I am so sad to leave. I have achieved so much at Oberlin College, and I am so thankful for everyone that has supported me along the way.”

Volleyball celebrated fourth-years Lucy Myers, Iyanna Lewis, Lindsey Felton and Zoe Kuzbari Friday prior to their game against Alma College. In a back-and-forth five-set rollercoaster, the Yeowomen were unfortunately unable to emerge victorious and lost with a final score of three sets to two. Myers put on a stellar showcase in her final game at Oberlin, producing a career-high 53-assists.

“Although it wasn’t the result we hoped for, it was a tough fought game,” Myers said. “We’re hopeful that it gave us the energy and momentum we need as we enter conference play this coming weekend! My favorite part of my volleyball career at Oberlin has been my teammates and the lifelong friendships I’ve formed. I wouldn’t be the player I am today without my team, and it’s been exciting to see how far we’ve come these past seasons.”

Before its Saturday match against The College of Wooster, field hockey honored four seniors — fourth-years Jackie Oh, Post, Vanessa Baker, and Meredith Warden — on Bailey Field. Like volleyball, the Yeowomen lost in close fashion to the Scots, with a stinging final score of 1–0. However, senior goalkeeper Post provided a great performance, making six key saves throughout the match.

“The arch of growth during my time at Oberlin is the best it possibly could’ve been,” Post wrote in an email to the Review. “Senior day was incredibly special: my teammates, coaches, and senior parents made a huge effort to honor us. Getting my 100th save in the season in that game also made it special. The mark the team has left on me is hard to describe: my teammates taught me how important the pursuit of passion is, how to assume grace in ourselves and one another, and most of all how to celebrate family. Really couldn’t have asked for a better experience this fall!”

Football will honor its seniors Saturday, Nov. 12 at a home game against Wooster, and cross country will honor its seniors at the end of outdoor track season in the spring. We at the Review wish the very best to our graduating athletic class!

Oberlin’s defensive players took the stage in the shootout. Third-year Abbie Patchen started off strong with the first stroke attempt, followed by first-year Elly Scheer’s two shots. Ultimately, fourth-year Jackie Oh scored the winning point in what she called an “exhilarating” and “surreal” experience. However, she doesn’t take all the credit. Oh is grateful for the fans and fellow defensive players for keeping her motivated throughout the lengthy game.

“I don’t consider my shootout the game winner because it would not have been possible without the efforts of [fourth-year] Post, Abbie, and Elly,” Oh wrote in an email to the Review. “Post had amazing saves, and Abbie and Elly secured some great shootout goals prior to mine. Because overtime is only 7v7, I had a lot of teammates on the sideline cheering me on and pushing me to be the best player I know I can be.”

Captain and goalkeeper Post played an important role in halting Transylvania’s persistent offense with six saves during the main game. They also blocked three out of four shootout attempts. Like Oh, they remarked that this has been one of the strongest defensive lines in field hockey’s recent history, and working alongside them has been a hallmark of this season so far.

“Jackie, Elly, and Abbie are some of the most talented players I’ve ever worked with,” Post wrote in an email to the Review. “A lot of work on the field comes down to presence, communication, and drive. If we show up to a game wanting it, it’ll project us forward. The defense and I have worked hard to maintain that tone throughout games, even the more challenging ones.”

This marks the second year that field hockey has reigned victorious over Transylvania; last season, Oberlin won their first and only game against the Pioneers. This was the last game against a non-conference team, as Oberlin will begin conference play this Saturday starting with the Allegheny College Gators. Fueled by the two Transylvania wins, Post hopes that the team can finish fifth in the conference and is excited at the prospect of more wins and celebrations to come in their final season.

“Last year when we beat them, it was our only win of the season,” they wrote. “To be not even halfway through the season and beat them and two other teams feels incredibly important. Moreover, there is [an] insatiable drive to win more games, to finish every game feeling like we left it all on the field. … I want to uplift my peers and celebrate the family we’ve helped create and maintain.”

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How did it feel to score the first goal of the season?
Scoring my goal was definitely a remarkable moment for me, not just because it was the first goal of the season but because it was also the first goal of my collegiate career. It was also the first home game, so scoring on our own turf made it that much more special. Having the entire team run up and tackle me down to the turf was something that made my work worth it; that recognition from the players whom I look up to every day was a feel-good moment on its own.

How do you think this goal and overtime win will dictate the rest of your season this year?
The win will definitely set a tone for the rest of the season and has already motivated us to work harder to gain that same feeling again. Having the stress of an overtime game is something that our team hasn’t dealt with before, and coming out on top was really exciting. I can already see an attitude change within our practices and in the locker room — we’re striving for the next victory.

What are some of your personal goals for your first season on the team? Did scoring this goal change some of your plans for what you want to accomplish this season?
As a first-year, my goal is to live up to the expectations of both my team and my coaches. As a defender, I’m still learning my place on the [defensive] line with the returning players, and I’m aiming to make a presence on the field and show my teammates that they can count on me to do my part. My first season will set the tone for the rest of my career, and gaining respect from my team and coaches on and off the field will help elevate my game. Scoring definitely helped me gain a lot more confidence on the field. When I showed up to my first practice during preseason, I was simply trying to get playing time. Now that I have achieved that, the next step is to challenge myself to learn that it’s okay not to be perfect. Finding comfort in making mistakes is something that I’m working on to make myself a better player and challenge myself to do things that I might have been scared to do in the past.

What made you choose Oberlin field hockey when deciding on a college?
Coach Jess West and the team were so supportive throughout the entire recruitment process. I could depend on them with anything, and they were respectful of my decision regardless of the school I chose. I knew I wanted to focus more on academics than athletics, and finding a balance between the two was difficult. I knew from the moment I came to campus that this was the community I wanted to be a part of. After meeting with multiple coaches and teams, I felt like I already had a place in the OC field hockey family, which was something I hadn’t felt with any other school.

How long have you been playing field hockey, and how did you get into the sport?
I’ve played for roughly nine years now. My first coach convinced me to play club shortly after fifth grade and later inspired me to play at a higher level. I was unsure about playing in college until my junior year of high school. I still email him and update him on how my experience has been, and I dedicate my playing to him as he believed in me since day one.

What is one thing you are most looking forward to this season? How has your experience with the team been thus far?

I’m especially excited about the accomplishments my team is going to make this season. I know that we are working harder than ever to prove that we are capable of more than what the records from our previous seasons have shown. I am looking forward to the special moments I’m going to be able to share with them through each achievement. My experience with this team has been more than I could ask for, and I’ve already made memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.

Fourth-year jumper on the women’s track and field team Aesha Mokashi went through an array of emotions after completing her college athletics career two weeks ago. 

“I remember going back to my parents’ Airbnb, reminiscing and getting very emotional about it,” she said. “It hit me that it was the last time I would ever run track. There aren’t that many opportunities to just pick up and go and do track in the way that you can [with other sports].”

For many college athletes, their final event or game for their school is their last opportunity to participate in their sport competitively. For Mokashi, it was the first time something that had been such a major force in her life ended in that way. 

“I don’t think there’s ever been a moment in my life where I’m like, ‘Oh, this is the end of something,’” she said. “There’s always been continuation and it was such a big part of my life. It was kind of overwhelming.”

Fourth-year Bonnie Wileman appreciates the free time she has had since her field hockey career ended in the fall, but still misses being on the team.

“I have a lot more free time than I previously had,” she said. “Now it’s the offseason, so during previous years, I would still be lifting and conditioning and practicing right now. I miss my team and seeing everyone every day, and I miss the structure of that.”

Fourth-year soccer player Ryan Kim also has mixed emotions about his career ending this past fall.

“The fact that I am finished with soccer did not sink in until the start of this semester,” he said. “It was a bittersweet moment, as I was grateful for everything that soccer has given me, but on the other hand, it was sad that I could not put an Oberlin uniform on again.”

Kim felt some relief when he completed his career, but nevertheless, he misses the excitement of the competition.

“There definitely was a feeling of relief after ending my college career because I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself to perform well, which has helped motivate me to become a better player,” he said. “On the flip side, this pressure can sometimes be a lot because the upcoming game can be the only thing on your mind for days as matchday approaches.”

All three retired fourth-year athletes have incredibly fond memories of the experiences they had on their teams. Mokashi cherishes the support she got from her teammates while competing in her events. 

“I was so blown away that every single person on this team cared about me and cared about what I was going to do and wanted to give me that energy,” she said. “They were so loud that the officials of the track meet had to put up a rope to keep them from getting too close.”

Wileman values much of the time spent with her team, including the field hockey team’s Teamsgiving celebration where they ate and sang together. She also describes a moment on the field that she will never forget — her team’s 1–0 victory over Transylvania University in the last game of her career. 

“I watch the video back so many times,” she said. “I jump up in the air when [second-year] Susan [Robinson-Cloete] scores and then I hug her and pick her up. I have a really sweet screenshot of that moment.”

Kim looks back fondly on his team making the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament after winning their last regular season game of 2019 as well as his two-goal performance against Wittenberg University last season. 

Although they may no longer be able to play competitively, Mokashi, Wileman, and Kim all intend to stay connected to their sport in the future. 

Mokashi, who is headed for the University of Washington’s School of Public Health to study ecotoxicology, is considering signing up for open track meets or finding a way to be involved in the university’s track meets in a non-athlete role. 

Wileman, who will work at the Bank of America in Charlotte, North Carolina after graduating, is looking forward to supporting college teams in the city and the rest of the state. She is excited to watch the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s powerhouse field hockey team with Review Contributing Sports Editor Zoë Martin del Campo, who will be attending graduate school there as well. 

As Kim looks forward to a career in software engineering, he intends to keep playing soccer in some capacity, and may explore coaching. As his time at Oberlin comes to an end, he has some words of encouragement for younger Oberlin athletes.

“Cherish your time as a student-athlete at Oberlin because it is a privilege to be a part of the community,” he said. “You will meet awesome people and make so many memories on and off the field. I would say to never give up on yourself and to push to become the best athlete you can be.”

In an article to the Players Tribune in 2018 about battling his depression and anxiety, Cleveland Cavaliers player Kevin Love wrote, “It’s not some magical process. It’s terrifying and awkward and hard, at least in my experience so far. I know you don’t just get rid of problems by talking about them, but I’ve learned that over time maybe you can better understand them and make them more manageable.”

There’s no denying that mental health is overlooked in athletics, especially at the rate it affects collegiate student-athletes. In a 2019 NCAA student-athlete survey report, 38.9 percent of incoming first-years felt frequently overwhelmed by the pressures of the past year, and slightly over a quarter of student-athletes felt difficulties piling up so high that they couldn’t overcome them in the month prior to taking the survey. Since the start of the pandemic, these numbers have likely soared. 

Like Love, other professional athletes have increasingly started to open up about their mental health and prioritize it over their sport: Simone Biles dropped out of events this past Summer Olympics, Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon in 2021, and Brandon Marshall shared his story of living with borderline personality disorder. On the collegiate end, former offensive lineman Harry Miller for The Ohio State University retired from the sport this year due to mental health issues. Although the world is shifting toward destigmatizing mental health, the lack of resources and preventative interventions in athletics have led to suicides of student-athletes. 

When fourth-year Stanford women’s soccer goalkeeper Katie Meyer took her own life in early March, it was an immediate shock to the college athletics world. Just one month later, Robert Martin, a fifth-year student and goalkeeper for Binghamton men’s lacrosse, also took his own life. These losses, among others, demonstrate the high toll of pressure on athletes’ mental health, and the lack of necessary resources to support them.

The Oberlin student body has an ongoing mental health crisis. Before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the school’s campus in March 2020, fourth-year College soccer player George Gworek was working to revive a mental health alliance geared toward student-athletes that disbanded years ago. Gworek participated in a similar club throughout high school. When he planned the alliance’s revival with a former professor, they envisioned it would be similar to the support groups Oberlin provides during high-stress periods, except student-led with a liaison and more free-functioning. 

However, with remote learning and the professor’s relocation, it became difficult for Gworek to advocate for mental health resources that would be accessible to student-athletes. Although Oberlin has improved on these resources during his four years here, Gworek sees that there’s more to be done.

“Specifically with athletes, there’s a lot of people that really care and are really passionate about [discussing mental health],” he said. “They just need to make that known, and I think there’s a stigma around trying to improve that. Spreading awareness and making it known that you care about this in trying to formulate whatever structure would be necessary for this.”

Many student-athletes struggle with performance-based anxiety, which Gworek believes can compound other mental health struggles outside of sports; and influence a person’s overall health and career. 

“I think that for some people, it’s a huge problem, [and] for other[s], it’s just sort of a mindfulness issue,” he said. “It’s consumed me in the past and I know it certainly consumes other people. I think it can definitely have serious broader implications for an individual’s mental health. It’s honestly swept aside especially since we’re a Division III school — it’s not like we’re going pro.”

For College second-year softball pitcher Alaina Di Dio, check-ins have been essential to maintaining her mental health. One system the team has in place is for the pitchers to do a group checkup before each practice; the group goes around in a circle to discuss how each player’s mental health is that day, and depending on that, the coach can adjust the workout. Off the field, she says team members make sure to check up on each other as well. 

“Sometimes I’ll ask the team ‘How are you?’” Di Dio said. “And they’re like, ‘oh yeah, I rolled out of bed this morning and I just did not want to get up at all; my depression is really bad today,’ and it’s like, okay, well we know during practice then to keep that in mind and to pick them up more.” 

Di Dio highlighted that at Oberlin, conversations regarding mental health within the athletics department occur more than people would think, at least compared to other schools. However, physical health is still regarded as the number one priority. Her hope is for students and coaches to destigmatize mental health and make it as important as an athlete’s physical health.

“We’re expected to put so much into the sport, and a lot of times there’s a lot of consideration for our physical health … but mental health isn’t really talked about as much,” said Di Dio. “It’s just not as emphasized as physical health. When you’re hurting, you go to your coach and they’re always like, ‘Oh, go see a trainer.’ You don’t go to a coach and say ‘Oh, I’m having a really bad day with my depression.’ That’s just not as accepted as a physical injury is.”

Post, a College third-year field hockey goalie, also cites their team as a major support system for their mental health. The team has had conversations about emotional well-being, how teammates’ capacity to give to the team any given day can be affected by mental health, and how to support each other. During the beginning of the season, field hockey players expressed to their teammates what type of support they needed on and off the field. This could look like being comforted, no physical touch, words of encouragement, or other outlets.

Next year, the team plans to put up a whiteboard detailing what support is best for each team member, and Post believes that this will better aid their teammates. 

“I want our team to continue to work on supporting all kinds of [ways] to move through mental health issues, not just the ones that are most palatable to our society,” they said. “I think recognizing how mental health can influence someone’s life and how coping with that can be a healthy or unhealthy thing is really important.”

Additionally, they mentioned the stigma surrounding conversation about student-athletes abusing substances as a way to deal with their mental health. At Oberlin, a lot of teams abide by the 24–48 rule during their season. The rule entails not consuming drugs or alcohol 24 hours before practice or 48 hours before a game. 

“In the larger athletics community, something that I’ve really been thinking about is issues with addiction and health, and how a lot of college students in general will use alcohol and drugs as a way of coping,” said Post. “For student-athletes, it’s particularly challenging to talk about because of NCAA compliance issues. A lot of the time, students don’t reach out for the help that they need because they’re afraid of getting in trouble. I think that’s something I really want to work on.”

These three student-athletes can all agree that the world of collegiate sports has a long way to go in implementing measures to protect students’ mental health. How will Oberlin step up to the plate?