Student athletes’ fiercest competitor may not be on the field, but in the mind

Licensed psychotherapist Corene Tague and Chapman student athletes unpack what it’s like competing during a pandemic. Panther Archives

For most students at Chapman, the struggles of pandemic life have been undoubtedly difficult. But for student athletes, it’s a whole different ball game — no pun intended. 

So much so that Student Psychological Counseling Services staff has partnered with Chapman’s athletic department to provide additional support for student athletes on campus. Corene Tague, licensed psychotherapist and former National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athlete, intends for the collaboration to be “validating” and “anxiety-reducing” for teams returning to competition during the pandemic.

“There is a higher-than-average level of anxiety that athletes carry that maybe their peers don’t,” Tague said. “And that anxiety, when channeled properly, is part of what makes us so committed to our craft.”

Tague was a collegiate swimmer at California State University, Bakersfield, which is a big reason why she acts as the liasion in this collaboration.

“I might not know how it feels to have that specific issue they’re coming in with, but I know what it’s like to have struggles on top of academics, on top of social responsibilities and on top of being an athlete. It’s kind of like a full time job,” Tague said.

The pandemic proved difficult to manage for Jake Flath, a senior business major and lineman on Chapman’s football team, who felt a wide range of emotions once his 2020 season was canceled. 

“The ordeal as a whole was very tough to handle, because my hopes were constantly being lifted up, and then instantly being brought down again,” Flath said.

Though the pandemic affected his ability to compete on the football field, Flath was able to fill his time off with other activities that were previously at the back of his mind.

“For as long as I could remember, I had wanted to restore a classic muscle car with my grandpa, but with football and classes in both high school and college, it wasn’t realistically doable for me.”

Flath and his grandpa completed the restoration of a 1969 Camaro by the end of summer after spending “close to 10 hours a day turning wrenches.”

Upon Chapman’s return to the field, Flath said he has been able to pick up where he left off with his teammates, and he’s seen a positive impact on morale since.

Women’s soccer player Sarah Connolly, a junior chemistry major, had similar thoughts and felt that being back around the soccer team has improved her year.

Connolly and her friends stayed connected with group facetimes during their time apart but says, “it's been really good to be back together.”

“It makes me feel like I have a group of people to rely on, so that has definitely helped,” Connolly said. “Obviously with the stress of school, soccer and being fully back (in person) and doing stuff … that has been hard.”

Student athletes are now back in the saddle and grinding away on the field and in the classroom as fall sports continue competing with the primary goals of winning games and staying healthy.