Once a Bronco, Always a Bronco

Santa Clara seniors face uncertain futures with coronavirus pandemic

The Santa Clara Athletics department, as well as the university itself, holds the motto, “Once a Bronco, always a Bronco” near and dear to its heart. As every senior athlete completes their final games, matches and races as Broncos, this phrase can be heard from Santa Clara coaches, fans, and even the athletes themselves. That motto now rings true more than ever before. 

Senior Broncos competing in spring sports had their final seasons cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. On March 30, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) declared an extra year of eligibility for the athletes in respective spring sports. NCAA Division I rules allow athletes to have four seasons of competition in a five-year period. So, many seniors will have to make a difficult decision: restore their last season of competition and add another year of school to their life-plans, or graduate in June and jump into the real world. 

Take Jason Dicochea, a senior on Santa Clara’s baseball team. He planned on declaring for the Major League Baseball draft after graduation. But sports across all levels—professional down to youth leagues—are on hold with no start date in place for the foreseeable future. Dicochea’s plans now include taking a fifth year at Santa Clara, putting his chances to play in the big leagues off for another year.

“It has always been one of my goals to play professional baseball,” Dicochea said. “That has not changed during this time, but [the pandemic] really puts things into perspective. It’s far bigger than baseball, or any sport. I’m just grateful to be able to play one more season with the Broncos.”  

However, this five-year plan doesn’t make sense for everyone. Hannah Russell, a senior on Santa Clara’s softball team who sustained a major shoulder injury at the end of her junior season, knew this season would be her last. Heading into the 2020 campaign, Russell’s mindset was one of gratitude for the time she has had in the sport. But the news that her grand finale had abruptly ended broke her heart. 

“That day, that news…it was something I couldn’t see coming or prepare for,”  Russell said. “It has taken so much emotion and mental strain to get through this. After all the injuries, loss and difficult situations this sport has put me through, nothing could have prepared me or anyone else for this kind of tragedy.”

For some, the option to push plans back another year is simply not feasible. Caitlyn Frankel, a senior on the women’s tennis team, considered taking the extra year of eligibility. However,  she already has a job lined up after graduation and chose to forgo that opportunity. Now she has to overcome the devastating reality that her 14-year tennis career has suddenly ended.

“I set out on this journey knowing there would be an eventual end, but this was definitely not the ending I wanted,” Frankel said. “But I do find strength in knowing I found my best friends through this sport at Santa Clara.”

And for other seniors, the legacy they have made for themselves at Santa Clara is one that will last a lifetime. Noelani Obermeyer, a senior on the women’s track and field team, said that while her heart is still broken, the memories she made as a Bronco are irreplaceable.

“I put my everything into this team, and I could not imagine running for any other program,” Obermeyer said. “I’m okay with not running another year because I have this family in my life now.” 

There is much uncertainty surrounding many of these athletes’ lives during this time, but one thing is for sure: each of these seniors has found a family through Santa Clara Athletics. Many of them began their journeys holding bats and swinging rackets before they could walk. They dedicated countless hours of practice before and after school, sacrificed weekends with friends to play in elite tournaments, and put their heart and soul into getting where only two percent of all athletes get—the collegiate level. 

And after four long years, they found a home as Broncos—always.
Contact Lacey Yahnke at lyahnke@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.