At Yale, first-year varsity athletes navigate difficulties of schoolwork, training
First-year varsity athletes have just stepped onto campus for the first time and are preparing to represent the Bulldogs in competition.
Yale Athletics
The chanting of the Yale fight song “Bulldog” marked the official kickoff of the sports season this year at the celebratory “Yale Up” pep rally on Aug. 31, 2024.
As one unique group of first years settle into campus life, they must adapt to Yale in even more ways than just their academic and social pursuits — waking up before dawn and carving hours out of their busy schedules to train for their varsity sports.
For incoming first-year Bulldog athletes, a supportive team is key to acclimating to Yale life. Many older team members give these new Elis insights on classes and navigating the city of New Haven.
“The upperclassmen have been incredibly helpful in answering my questions about classes, tennis and the best places to eat,” Edward Liao ’28, a member of the varsity tennis team, told the News. “I’m slowly adapting to our afternoon training schedule and am excited to train hard alongside my teammates.”
Victoria Collee ’28, a member of the field hockey team from the Netherlands, cited the helpful nature of her team in the adjustment to American university.
Since saying goodbye to her family two weeks ago, she said she has found an incredible support system in the Yale Field Hockey team.
“The field hockey team has become my new family,” Collee said.
Although not far from his hometown of Fairfield, Conn., varsity men’s hockey player Ronan O’ Donnell ’28 emphasized the uplifting atmosphere of the team since his arrival on campus.
He cited the “supportive atmosphere and culture” of the team as a highlight to the start of his journey at Yale.
In addition to competing at the elite level of college sports, varsity athletes are also full-time students.
Collee’s schedule involves 20 hours a week of practice and weight lifting as well as travel and logistics for games.
When O’Donnell was not a full time student, he played as many as 62 games a season. Now on top of his busy 30-game season, he adds an increased amount of school work, a transition he says will be challenging.
For varsity football player Camden Hickox ’28, who will be playing at the annual Yale-Harvard football game in November, balancing football and school means many early mornings.
“We wake up at 4 a.m. most mornings, start practices at 5:30 a.m., and train on the field for up to three hours before morning classes start,” Camden said.
However, despite juggling between academic, athletic and social life, each athlete said the sacrifice is “worth it.”
“Yale’s campus offers so many exciting opportunities, from joining clubs to meeting interesting people, and I want to experience them all while still performing at my best as a student athlete,” Liao said.
And for many of these athletes, competing in college athletics is a childhood dream come true.
“After all the hard work I put into football since I was younger, I’m excited to be here. Yale has so much history, tradition, and I’m looking forward to living out my dream as a kid, playing college football,” said Hickox.
Classes began for these first-year student athletes on Aug. 28.