On Sept. 16, St. Olaf Athletics hosted its annual Student-Athlete Kickoff event in Skoglund Center, celebrating the start of a new academic and athletic year. While upperclassmen geared up for another year of the grind in collegiate athletics, they were joined by an enthusiastic — and enormous — first-year athlete class. In an email with the Olaf Messenger, Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communications Michael Abdella ’13 said that St. Olaf boasts 195 first-year athletes this year — a sharp increase from last year’s 158. Keeping this statistic in mind, here are a few things to expect from Ole Athletics in 2024-25.
Fresh Faces. With the fall athletics season well underway, we’ve already seen first-year athletes provide meaningful contributions. For St. Olaf Men’s Soccer, four first-years have contributed at least one goal or assist in the team’s quest to defend their National Championship; and two first-years have contributed assists for St. Olaf Women’s Soccer, who are off to a flying start, winning seven of their first nine matches. As fall first-year athletes continue to make their mark on their seasons, many first-years are eagerly awaiting the start of the winter and spring seasons. This is especially the case for St. Olaf Men’s Basketball, who, according to Mason Aarness ’28 in an interview with the Olaf Messenger, have 10 first-year players on the team. Regardless of the team, be on the lookout for some not-so-familiar faces to make an impact.
Bright Futures. St. Olaf Athletics has enjoyed great success in recent years, boasting a plethora of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) championships, NCAA Division Three tournament appearances, and multiple individual and team National Championships. But as Ole teams continue to perform on the biggest stages, coaches continually look to the future to sustain such success. With a large first-year athlete class combined with talented sophomore and junior classes, the future is bright. Importantly, first-year athletes are developing more than just their athletic abilities: they’re developing as teammates. For Aarness, one of the most exciting aspects of the first-year men’s basketball class is that he can grow with the group over four years. As these first-years grow as athletes, teammates, and people, St. Olaf Athletics will be in good hands for years to come.
Community. St. Olaf as an institution prides itself on community. For many first-year athletes, community is first experienced through connections with not only their teammates but also first-year athletes on other teams. The transition from high school to collegiate athletics can be challenging, but sharing such experiences with others can be invaluable while navigating this dramatic transition.
“Having so many people adjust to a new schedule and new routine of things has been really nice in being able to connect with one another” Aarness said.
These inter-athletic connections help foster a community where first-year athletes can share experiences and support their peers. This community is visible at athletic events, when members of different teams gather to cheer on their fellow athletes in competition, highlighting how Oles support Oles.
St. Olaf Athletics is poised for another year of success. First-years will contribute to such success, as these young athletes look to leave their mark this season and for years to come.
