College athletics can look entirely uniform at first glance, often defined by matching jerseys and synchronized warmups. But for the Broncos, “look good, feel good” is far more than just a tagline. While student-athletes might not choose their uniforms, they find new ways to express their personalities.

For women’s soccer defender Addie Whitehouse ’27, not choosing her uniform means her hair is entirely up to her. Different hairstyles have become a way for her to express herself on the field.

“Hair is really the one thing we can do for our games,” Whitehouse said. “Sometimes ribbons are just for fun in red or white, but we’ve also worn green ribbons for mental health awareness, pink for breast cancer and orange ribbons across the NCAA to honor Mia Hamant after she passed away from cancer.”

Whitehouse’s go-to game hairstyle is a functional slicked-back double braid, ideal for eliminating any distractions on the field. Beyond hair, players personalize their gear by writing encouraging reminders on wrist tape, such as “play freely” or the names of who they are playing for during certain matches.

When traveling, team captains set guidelines around appearance on the road.

“We require black pants and our red Santa Clara soccer sweatshirt,” Whitehouse said. “We just want to make sure we’re color-coordinated and represent our program well.”

Off the field, Whitehouse enjoys taking a break from the sweatpants.

“Going to campus is my outing. My teammates and I say we get to ‘play dress up.’ I love wearing jeans, makeup and anything from Aritzia, Alo and Free People.”

Distance runner Audrey O’Neill ’28 and her teammates combine utility with flair for style choices— “we love to say ‘look good, feel good,’” she said.

The women’s cross-country and track team make custom hair ribbons with “SCUXCTF” to keep a bond across long courses. Athletes also apply face glitter over their cheekbones and wear bright superstitious socks. O’Neill’s personal favorite pair has a hole over the big toe, but she still wears it every race.

Meanwhile, the men’s cross country team has attracted online attention for their viral media-day photo traditions, featuring shaved bowl cuts, asymmetrical mustaches and comedic facial expressions.

“Mustaches and bold looks have become huge among distance runners,” O’Neill said. “Team expression directly impacts performance. It gives everyone an extra boost of confidence on race day.”

Off the track, O’Neill balances comfort with structured style.

“During double-practice days, comfort is key,” said O’Neill. “Vuori and Alo sweatsuits are popular among our team. But for campus, I’ve shifted toward business casual with lots of accessories and a fun belt to bring out an outfit.”

In baseball, style exists within strict boundaries. For first baseman Will Anderson ’27, on-field fashion revolves around personal jewelry.

“Chains are definitely a big statement piece, and pretty much every guy on our team wears one,” said Anderson. “For me, I wear a gold chain with a pendant of two baseball bats and a ball arranged to make the letter ‘A.’ My dad was gifted it by his dad when he graduated high school for our last name, Anderson. I haven’t taken it off since I got it.”

Under head coach Rusty Filter, the Broncos follow a unified look to promote team cohesion. All position players wear matching Nike cleats specific to the day’s uniform. White and red cleats for Friday night pinstripes, flare black for Saturday military creams and all-red for Sunday home games.

“When all of your cleats match the uniform, it really contributes to a single-minded team that works together, as opposed to each individual player playing with their own appearance,” Anderson said.

Off the field, Anderson rotates between casual athletic gear and a classic Western look.

“I wear a lot of Lululemon joggers and plain white tees. But if people see me out, I’m typically in Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots and a hat.” Anderson said.

Brayde Kuykendall ’30, men’s basketball guard, said the switch from high school to college brought a major shift in fashion freedom, specifically sneaker culture.

“In high school, we had a team shoe that our coach got us, and I had to wear the exact same shoe for every game,” Kuykendall said. “For college, I really try to switch it up almost every game. I don’t like being the same all the time.”

While certain team guidelines require uniform colors for arm sleeves and wristbands, Kuykendall keeps a minimalist setup unless superstition steps in.

“I once had a teammate who was known for wearing an arm sleeve in the exact same place every game,” Kuykendall said. “One game, I decided to try his extra arm sleeve on my left arm. I had a crazy game, 36 points, so almost every single game after that for my senior year, I wore it.”

Off the court, Kuykendall balances comfort with street-wear style. Flip-flops and Santa Clara Athletics gear drive his post-practice appearance; however, going out beyond campus calls for a more fashionable approach.

“I’m really big into sneaker culture. If I’m going somewhere nice, I’m probably wearing Jordan 3s,” Kuykendall said. “For clothes, I go to Uniqlo a lot for sweatsuits, and I have some Denim Tears shorts when I want to dress a little nicer.”

Whether it’s a family heirloom or a superstitious pair of socks, University student-athletes showcase that personal style and team identity go hand in hand.