\n
SACROMENTO, Calif. (AP) — When Andrea Kitahata’s Stanford soccer teammate and best friend Katie Meyer passed away from suicide three years ago, Kitada realized at that point that she was more important to her grief and mental health.<\/p>\n
So she stepped into her sophomore season, only six games away from her sport, Finding her own way to respect Meyer’s memory<\/span> By becoming an advocate and example through her outreach on mental health awareness. Meyer was the popular goalkeeper who led the Cardinal to the 22-year-old 2019 NCAA College Cup Championship Game.<\/p>\n“Working through the sadness of being incorporated into my daily routine and losing someone who suddenly disappeared has taken everything out of me,” Kitada said. “I felt the pressure of playing time, starting point, career, and anything else I wanted other than pushing my emotions down and being on the field. As an athlete, you’re taught to turn your muscles into muscle in pain.<\/p>\n
Kitada worked on his overall well-being and returned to the team in 2023. Currently, as a redshirt senior, the forward is Stanford’s team captain.<\/p>\n
She was also selected as the recipient of the Calhope Courage Award in September, honoring her patience and courageous comeback pass. San Antonio Mountain University sophomore baseball player Jackson Jacone is a selection of other items.<\/p>\n
Playing for Cardinal in 2023, Kitada appeared in all 25 games and gained recognition as the All-PAC-12 second-team. And last year, she had nine goals and six assists in 22 games.<\/p>\n
She supports Katie’s Save Foundation<\/span> He co-created a documentary, focusing on preventing suicide. “It’s time to talk about that.”<\/span> To bring awareness to the mental health crisis among young people.<\/p>\nGiacone’s university comebacks are very different. The former Eureka High School star was briefly paralyzed from the neck from an unusual accident in a batting cage that barely went on to college, and on a scholarship he had long dreamed of at Fullerton California State – a former Eureka High School star who shattered vertebrae and destroyed others around it.<\/p>\n
Jacone required two major surgeries for the spine and spent nearly two weeks at a trauma center dealing with complications, but he returned to the field after the existing 15 days to stand with his teammates. It took him four months and he was throwing again, so surprisingly, he was back in competitive baseball by the following summer.<\/p>\n
The third baseman and outfielder played 48 of 51 51 games as a redshirt freshman this year, hitting .237 on two home runs, 32 RBIs, 28 runs and nine stolen bases. <\/p>\n
“There were days when I couldn’t get back to the field. The physical pain was one thing, but mentally, it was hard to accept that my dream might have ended,” Jacone said. “What went through me was seeking and accepting help from my doctors, physical therapists, family, coaches and teammates. Their beliefs reminded me to believe in myself. My goal of playing baseball once again gave me a purpose.<\/p>\n
The Calhope Courage Award has been announced monthly from February 2022 by university sports communicators in connection with the Associated Press. California Department of Healthcare Services Crisis Counseling and Support Resources. and the Council on the Governor’s Physical Fitness and Mental Happiness.<\/p>\n
The Governor’s Council sponsors this award program for student-athletes who have overcome the personal challenges of winning sports. Donations will be made to support the recipient’s mental health at each university.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP Sports: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/sports<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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