What’s something you’ve learned about yourself since becoming a college athlete? I’ve learned that I’m more capable than I realize. Being a student-athlete is not easy by any means, and just when I think I can’t do it, I always manage to. This past season, I played on a broken toe, a knee that needed surgery at the end of the season and a torn adductor, yet I finished the season. I told myself I would crawl through the finish line if I had to, and I’m so proud of myself for pushing through. There were definitely days when I didn’t think I was able to do it, yet I always proved myself wrong.
Soccer | Junior | Current Favorite Pump- Up Song: HER country playlist and a series of worship songs, including “That’s Who I Praise” addie whitehouse (zeta gamma-santa clara)
Athleticism runs in Addie Whitehouse's (Zeta Gamma-Santa Clara) family. Both of her parents were collegiate athletes, and she and her younger brother have been in motion for as long as they can remember. Growing up, Addie tried nearly every sport within reach — tennis, golf, swimming, lacrosse, gymnastics, even horseback riding. She enjoyed them all, but soccer was the one she kept coming back to. “I can’t pinpoint a specific thing,” Addie says. “I just know that I always enjoyed it and always wanted to be around it. Plus, I loved being part of a team. My teammates became my built-in family.” Addie has two built-in families now at Santa Clara University, where she studies finance. The first is her soccer team. With five to six practices a week, plus preseason and a roughly 20-game schedule, it’s nearly impossible not to grow close. “We share nearly every part of our day,” Addie says. “That includes going through hardships together. We’re extremely tight knit.”
The second is her Alpha Phi sisters. When she first arrived at Santa Clara, Addie, who was already committed to playing soccer, only had her sights on sports. She didn’t think joining other campus groups was an option, especially given her jam-packed soccer schedule. Luckily, that wasn’t the case. “When I was introduced to a Zeta Gamma member and she explained how everything worked, it sounded like a genuine sisterhood that I wanted to be part of. Alpha Phi has given me a chance to meet so many new people that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to know.” Like many student-athletes, Addie manages her packed schedule by making every minute count. She plans her days carefully, stays disciplined with her schoolwork and relies on her to-do lists and calendar to keep everything on track. When it comes to game day, this Alpha Phi has a routine down to a science. It starts with specific protein drinks the night before and the day of each game, followed by a coffee or energy drink just before kickoff. And while
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