Coaches letters: to departing senior athletes

Volleyball: from Coach Walby

This time of the year always surprises me…never feels like you have been here long enough to years it has been. I know your four years weren’t the typical four years — but I hope you are proud choosing WashU for your college experience and career. I couldn’t be more proud of you all! You really have battled through a lot and have been wonderful examples to the people around you. Thank you for coming in and working hard every day, adapting to our system, and buying into our culture. The impact and stamp you have left with our program will be remembered. Good luck to you all! Rep us with pride and live our bare values in all you do! Don’t be strangers!

— Proud Mamma Bear

Women’s tennis: from Coach Madara

Dear Sophia and Anke,

Thank you for all of your many contributions to WashU and the Bear tennis family throughout your four years! You have left such an impact on our program with your leadership and determination. Both of you have been immensely dedicated to your academic pursuits and have challenged yourself to maximize your learning opportunities in the classroom, on the court, and in your internships. I know you two will accomplish everything and anything you set your mind on!! I will always remember your epic battles on the court (especially Anke’s UAA clinch!), visits to Torchy’s, laughter, and pump-up playlists.

Thank you, senior bears! Remember, once a Bear, always a Bear — welcome to the WashU Bears Alumna group, and see you soon!

RAWR forever, Coach Madara

Women’s soccer: from Coach Conlon

Women’s basketball: from Coach Henderson

Naomi, Molly, Sammi, Maya, Karisa, Ingrid, and Carter —

The team celebrates after the first goal of the season.

THANK YOU to four incredibly amazing women: Dre, Brauner, Maggie, and Riley. You make women’s soccer and all that we represent great. The path to success is rarely ever a straight line, but rather, has many twists and turns. Throughout your career, there have been many twists and turns — many of which you could not control. You chose to control what you could control and made this program one of the nation’s Elite — ranked #9 Nationally this fall!!! Each one of you showed incredible perseverance throughout your own personal journey, which led to an extremely successful leadership — the program is better than it was when you found it. As you leave the Danforth campus, the women’s soccer family wishes you nothing but the best. You are ready to crush you are remarkable. Trust your preparations as you continue to achieve greatness. I am so very proud of each of you, and I am proud and humbled to be your coach.

B4L, Coach Conlon.

What a ride we have had. Coming in your freshman year behind a graduated class of 6 shoes. And you have done that in both your athletic and academic careers. These big shoesed or imagined. As freshmen, your class was slammed into UAA play and into one of the toughest strength of schedules in the country. Tough games, close games, lots of Learning — and we battled through it, worked hard and found our way to seven non-conference wins this while only having three returners helping our world and your college experience forever. No summer workouts, no post-season, no enough to navigate as students and athletes, there came polarizing politics, massive racial and social injustices leading to riots, deaths, and some much-needed progress in our country. Hard stuff. A year without in-person school or basketball at all followed by a year of dealing with a classmate dying of cancer, torn ACLs, torn ligaments, injuries, concussions, journey has been full of opportunities to give up, yet each of you proved beyond resilient. You collectively worked through a lot to get to this moment — to graduate — having fought your way back to the top. A season spent and a road back to the NCAA Tournament. I could not be more proud of the work, commitstrong. We are so very grateful for our seniors. Each one of you have taught me something valuable about basketball, life, relationships, integrity, resilience, and hard work. Each one of you, in different ways, has challenged me to become a better coach, a stronger leader, and a better person. I hope that in our short time together, I was able to do a little bit of that for each of you. Thank you for your contribution, everything that has made this women’s basketball program so elite. The Bears before you would be proud of your resilience, and the Bears behind you have been blessed. Go out and attack your new adventures with the same work ethic and resilience that got you to this moment. B4L.

Men’s soccer: from Coach Clarke

Cross country & track: from Coach Stiles

Dear Shiv, Armando, Matt, Hudson, Gavin, Matt,

You have been the standard bearer for our team. You walk the talk. What a keeper? Thanks for leading us.

The mantra on all teams is team- first. Self-sacrifice, do whatever is asked of you, all in for the team. Shiv, Armando, Hudson and Gavin every one of you has played striker, midfielder and in the back line and sometimes in the same game.

You have sacrificed; moving from the position where you are most comfortable to where you are most needed. Truthfully the ultimate compliment to a player: the coach (Oscar and I) believes you get the game and are able to successfully function in whatever role asked of you.

It has been a privilege, fun, and memorable. Oscar and I savor our friendships and look forward to tracking with you and seeing you in the next phase.

Most gratefully.

Men’s basketball: from Coach Juckem

2023 Seniors,

It is hard to believe that four years are almost over. Thank you for being an integral part of the WUXCTF family and making it something very special. Each one of you has become a HIB (High Impact Bear). I believe that the trials you have experienced over the past four years have provided opportunities to serve and grow. While each one of you has a very different story, I hope each of you experienced what it means to be a part of something bigger than yourself through two teams and one family. This group has experienced the extremes of having seasons canceled, along with winning a national championship with one more season to go. I believe that over time, you will come to realize that these challenges and mountaintop experiences have each helped mold you as a person and have equipped you to become high-impact leaders in your communities and families. Know that you are loved and have a special purpose ahead of you. I am excited to see how each one of you will impact the world. You will always be a Bear, and I hope you each aspire to continue to be a High Impact Bear who leaves a legacy everywhere you go as you become the best version of yourself!

Go Bears,

Charlie, Kevin, Liam, Nate, Jerry, Kai -

It has been a privilege to observe your growth throughout your WashU journey. Each of you made your mark on our university and our program. Our journey together was filled with countless memories and experiences that go well beyond the scoreboard. Extremely challenging circumstances revealed your character and taught lessons that usually come much later in life. You leave WashU with a support system that will be with you the rest of your life! To our original APP’s, Kai and Jerry…your selfless service to our program is appreciated beyond words.

I am excited to watch you apply your talents in myriad ways beyond WashU. Love you all!

#OneFist Coach Juckem

Alice Gottesman Senior Scene Editor

down and temperatures rise, graduation looms closer and closer. It’s a largely bittersweet time for seniors, who are both saddened by their time at WashU coming to a close, but also excited about the precipice of a new chapter. Despite the complicated feelings that come with goodbyes, there are that seniors are ready to put behind them. Without further ado, here are a couple things seniors are ready to say goodbye to and a couple things they’re taking with them.