Oberlin College Athletics

Celebrating Our Progress

Dear Friends,

I recently passed my two-year anniversary as the Delta Lodge Director of Athletics and Physical Education. Add in the interim year of 2005-06, and I have had the pleasure of leading this department for three years. They have gone by quickly.

In 2003, Oberlin College made a commitment to the renaissance of intercollegiate athletics, physical education, and wellness with the hiring of my predecessor, Vin Lananna. In the five years that have followed, Oberlin has reaped the benefits of its investment … sometimes in tangible ways, and other times more subtly. As we close out the academic year, I invite you to celebrate the tremendous progress we have made, together, over the past five years.


Competitive Success

This season, we set another institutional mark in the North Coast Athletic Conference All-Sports Trophy – a measure of overall competitive excellence. Oberlin scored 111.5 points – up from 105 last year – to finish seventh among conference schools. Considering that we scored 91 points just three years ago, our rise as a competitive department is staggering … and I think we have much to be optimistic about in the future.

Fundraising Success

Thanks to the efforts of the Heisman Club and its presidents – John Erikson (2004-06); Jim Carlson (2006-08); and Carla Freyvogel (2008-present) – we have raised nearly $500,000 for athletics from our annual giving program. The Heisman Club’s annual fundraising provides the support essential for the continued growth of athletics and wellness at Oberlin. We expect to significantly broaden our base of support in upcoming years, and we must thank those who give generously and regularly to the club.

Giving the Student-Athletes a Voice

Through course and sport evaluation forms, exit interviews, and office hours, as well as a strong Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Oberlin students and student-athletes help spur progress in athletics and wellness on campus. They inform me regularly on what we do well, where we need to improve, and where we should set our sights in the future. Our senior student-athletes often comment on the dramatic improvement of their experience in four years, and we remain committed to continued progress for the entire department.

Promoting Wellness

Oberlin’s commitment to community wellness strengthened this past year with the development of OB Fit ’08. An initiative designed to promote healthy lifestyles, OB Fit ’08 engaged students, faculty, and staff in two weeks of wellness programming this past February. As a result of the outstanding turnout, OB Fit will be offered again next year and continue annually in the future.

Supporting Club Sports

Thanks to the leadership of Linda Gates, Dean of Students, Oberlin has designed a robust structure for the support of our student-run club sports programs. We have added a certified athletic trainer and contracted with a sports medicine physician to ensure our club athletes received proper medical care. We have worked with transportation and local bus companies to offer safe modes of travel to away contests. Finally, we have designated Betsy Bruce as the Director of Club Sports – this will ensure that good leadership and administrative support continues in the future.

Thank you to all of our student-athletes, coaches and staff, parents, and alumni for your contributions to the development of Oberlin athletics. With your support, I am confident the next five years will be filled with tremendous progress and accomplishments for our institution. Enjoy your summer – Go Yeo!

Best regards,

Joe Karlgaard
The Delta Lodge Director of Athletics and Physical Education