Washington & Jefferson College

Georgia Schumacher (middle, wearing hat) with her teammates

A Family of Athletes

When I joined the W&J varsity softball team as a freshman, I was told, “Welcome to the family.” A year later, when our team won the most games ever in W&J softball history, a coach said we were the closest team she had ever seen. Neither statement was an exaggeration.

Playing softball has been one of my favorite experiences in college, and the bonds I’ve formed with team members are incredibly strong. I imagine that the athletes on W&J’s other 22 intercollegiate sports teams feel the same way.

Every spring, our season opens with ten games in Orlando, Florida. The first game is always a test—our first time on the softball diamond putting together everything we’ve been practicing. The freshmen are always the most nervous and quiet, unsure of where they fit in. By the end of the week (full of team dinners, shopping trips, and a day off from softball usually involving a Disney visit), we are officially a team and usually inseparable.

For four straight years, we have competed in the conference tournament, winning the championship once and hosting the tournament another year. This year, our goal remains the same—to win our conference. For now, we train in the off season and learn to believe in each other, spending hours of our days together as athletes and as friends, trusting that it will pay off when the season finally arrives.

Georgia Schumacher
W&J Class of 2010