On the Field and Behind the Scenes: A Soccer Player’s Dual Role in Sport
Our current Husky Fellow, Lucy Newlin, competed in the first two rounds of the 2024 NCAA Women’s Soccer tournament. The Washington women’s soccer team earned a bid to the tournament for the first time since the 2020-21 season and was matched against the No. 25-ranked Utah State for its first round. The Huskies clinched a 3-0 win in penalty kicks over the Aggies, dancing to the round of 32. Washington was paired against No. 2-ranked Mississippi State, falling in a 1-0 loss due to a breakaway goal in the 72nd minute.
“Being one of the 64 schools in the NCAA tournament come November is a complete dream come true, honestly a little bit surreal. It’s what you work with your team for all year long, the culmination of a lot of sweat and tears and hours,” Lucy said. “I’m just blessed to be a small part of this incredible group that has invested so much to represent Washington with pride and get big results in the process.”
Lucy played a large role in the team’s tournament run, acting as captain of the UW soccer team. Her success on the field is evident, but her success off the field is also something to take note of. While being a full-time student-athlete, Lucy is also contributing greatly to The Sports Institute’s Mentally Strong program and research. The goal of Mentally Strong is to motivate and support youth coaches to teach positive coping strategies to youth athletes, using evidence-based approaches.
“My work at TSI is with Dr. Sara Chrisman and mainly around equipping youth athletes with skills that help improve mental strength and resilience through Mentally Strong,” Lucy said. “These skills are based largely in biopsychosocial evidence, which I have been exposed to through my upper division biology classes at the UW.”
Dr. Sara Chrisman, an adolescent pediatrician and Assistant Director of Community Outreach at TSI, leads Mentally Strong and values engaging college athletes in this work. “I’ve seen firsthand how the pressures of high school sports can affect adolescent mental health. College athletes, are uniquely positioned to not only provide relatable strategies, but also break down the stigma surrounding mental health.”
The Husky Fellowship is designed to offer student-athletes a unique and diverse internship experience at the intersection of healthcare, sports, business, and technology. With the support of Steve and Dixie Willson, this is an opportunity for student-athletes to develop professional skills at the intersection of academics, athletics, and career interests.
Given that the work Lucy is conducting at TSI intersects with her studies in the classroom, she has been able to provide the TSI team with incredibly valuable support, especially as she helps with an upcoming pilot of the Mentally Strong to widen its scope. Lucy’s motivation to apply for the Husky Fellowship was largely due to what she values most:.
“Growing up, my family always emphasized the importance of physical activity and its vital role in overall health,” Lucy said. “So finding The Sports Institute, an organization so dedicated to making sport accessible and safe for everyone, was a great continuation of my passion for movement and my love for working with people in my community. And then, through the Husky Fellowship, having a role that is flexible with my rigorous athletic and academic schedules, it feels like where I belong!”
Learn more about Lucy and her academic, athletic, and Husky Fellowship contributions here: