Triumph in Teamwork
D1 athletes find joy in balance and community as they compete for Santa Clara
When pondering what constitutes “Claradise,” the average student might refer to the intimate social cliques or the ritualistic Saturday darties. However, our Division One athletes rarely experience the social side of Santa Clara. Functioning only within their jam-packed schedules, they have a completely different college experience than most–but not without a sense of community.
Despite their inability to attend every backyard shindig, the strength of the athletes shines through that struggle.
As things get challenging on and off the court, the tight-knit community within the Athletics Department provides the athletes with no shortage of tools to help them do it all. From attending games to behind the scenes, the entire department, from coaches to staff, makes the Santa Clara athletes feel supported and cared for.
“I think the athletic department does a really good job of building community among the athletes, which might not be the experience of the general student body,” said softball player Ashley Trierweiler. “But speaking from an athlete's perspective, there's a lot of opportunity for community building. That helps a lot in the search for the good life, knowing somebody is gonna have your back.”
That collaboration and support, of course, is integral to a team environment.
“I think being part of a sports team is something that really helps push me toward that vision of the good life because I'm surrounded by a bunch of people going through the same things and living the life I'm living,” said Trierweiler. “So you’re not alone. We all have a common goal.”
But the strength of these bonds go past goofy moments shared between teammates. All of the hours these athletes dedicate to training would be difficult to accomplish alone. The togetherness fostered in a team environment helps them keep their drive to compete. Women’s rowing senior Maia Foelsch notes that she finds her good life through daily interactions with her teammates, as they are able to overcome odd hours and continue to work hard.
“We wake up at 5 a.m. every morning,” she said. “My teammates are pretty much the only people that can make me laugh and giggle at such an early hour. No one else has ever had that effect on me. That really helps me find some enjoyment and fun because I know every time I wake up, we’re all waking up together and we’re gonna go put in that hard work together on the water.”
Though the athletes have a unique lifestyle, many of their complaints line up with those of the average Santa Clara student.
“Honestly one of the hardest things, it sounds a little petty, but it's the food in Benson,” said senior hooper Jaden Bediako. “When I first came it was great, but now it's a lot of burgers and fries, and some stuff is barely ever open.”
But Bediako appreciates much about his on-campus lifestyle, expressing love for his villa residence, and admiration for the way all of the athletes bond, from cooking together to seeing each other in the gym daily.
When so much work is put into training and travel, the outcomes of games can dictate athletes’ well-being. Given their devotion to their sport–which often requires putting social time and academics on the back burner–it is more than frustrating when the results are unsatisfactory. When asked about the emotional effect her sport has on her life, senior beach volleyball player Claire Doud wishes it had none.
“I wish winning and losing didn’t affect my life, but it does,” she said. “I didn’t play too well yesterday at Cal Poly, and today I’ve just been kind of kicking the rocks a little bit. It’s really great when it's great, it's really tough when it's tough. I hate losing for myself, but I hate it more for my team. I hate when I can’t perform to what my teammates need me to do. You rely on one another and if you can’t step up, it feels bad. It really does.”
Redshirt sophomore water polo player Mike Kreienkamp, like many of his fellow Santa Clara athletes, believes it's all about structure.
“I think in college as an athlete, living the good life means having a balance between school, athletics, relationships and all the other college activities,” said Kreienkamp. “It’s not good to spend too much time on school or all my time in the weight room or to always be hanging out with friends.”
All work and no play makes Mike a dull boy–room for downtime helps to alleviate the challenges of the athlete experience. Those difficulties can look a little different, though, like for freshman basketball player Tess Heal, who calls Melbourne, Australia home.
“At the start, it was just the lack of familiarity, but then homesickness comes into play, you miss your family,” said the rising star. “My dad is my biggest supporter. He’s always been at every game, and when something happens across the world and you're not there for it, it sucks. It really sucks.”
As well as assuaging anxiety, the strong and uplifting group dynamic is vital to the success of a program and the individuals within it. This is clearly the case for senior Natalie Brauser.
“I really value being part of a team,” said the water polo player, who is currently in a boot after a broken leg cut her season short. “Two days ago a sophomore on my team picked me up and we went to Trader Joe’s, and she pushed my cart around for me and got all of my groceries. It’s just things like that which make me grateful to be on a team and be surrounded by supportive teammates.”
Every one of the athletes stressed the bond they have with their teammates. Having the incredible support from all members of the community makes it all worth it for former Santa Clara striker, Izzy D’Aquila, who was recently signed to the Portland Thorns FC.
“At Santa Clara, I met my best friends, girls that I would call family now,” she said, expressing gratitude for the uplifting and nurturing culture within her team and the Santa Clara athletic department. “They pushed me to be where I am today. I wouldn't be playing professional soccer without all the girls on the team and the staff at the university.”