The Cowgirl Way: Mariah Gearhart

On paper, nobody would have expected the Oklahoma State softball team to earn a spot in the Women's College World Series in 2011.

Even Mariah Gearhart, a key member of that squad, had her doubts.

"There was nothing that would have told me that year was going to be a World Series trip, 100 percent," Gearhart said.

Now 10 years on, Gearhart maintains the 2011 OSU softball team was so successful because of the comradery of the players, the love they had for one another, and the one goal they all shared…making it to the WCWS.

"We care for each other like sisters, and it's because we connected on that one common goal that we all wanted to make it to the World Series and we all wanted to win," Gearhart said. "At the end of the day, we did whatever it took to win on that field."

Gearhart and her teammates are still close to this day, and she has even applied the lessons she learned about building relationships with her teammates at Oklahoma State to one of her new passions in life, flag football.

"I take that same relationship that I built with my girls at Oklahoma State to my USA Flag team because I know how big our relationships were a part of why we made it to the World Series that year," Gearhart said.

Gearhart first became introduced to the sport of flag football through her job with ESPN. Despite initially trying to play slow pitch softball through the ESPN organization when she first arrived in Charlotte, Gearhart soon realized that after her time at Oklahoma State and playing collegiate softball, slow pitch didn't offer the challenge and competitiveness that she has always sought.

Then, the opportunity to play football presented itself and she fell in love with the game.

The transition from softball to flag football was easy for Gearhart and she applies many of her speed and agility and hand-eye coordination drills from her softball days to her flag football training. Gearhart was intrigued by how popular the sport was in other counties and became more involved.

Once she committed to football, her natural athleticism and fierce competitive nature led her to success and eventually a spot on the 2018 U.S. Women's Flag Football National team that won the program's first gold medal. She describes it as a dream that she didn't know she wanted, but once she experienced it, was one of the best feelings ever.

"Being able to have that gold medal around your neck at the end of the day and putting in so much hard work with my teammates, knowing that every single one of us earned it, especially competing against other countries, it's just a completely different experience," Gearhart said. "I've won so many games on so many different levels, but that one had a different, special meaning."

Gearhart also sees similarities between softball and flag football in how passionate the fans are about the sports and playing on the biggest stages.

"It really is an amazing atmosphere," Gearhart said. "It's something I still compare to the Women's College World Series. That same feeling, that same vibe, that same love and passion that you feel from the fans in Oklahoma City, is what I've seen in multiple other countries with this sport and it's just awesome."

Once again in 2021, Gearhart will compete as part of the USA Women's Flag National team when it travels to Palma, Spain in October, as she and her teammates look to repeat as gold medalists.

While she isn't playing flag football, Gearhart serves as a graphics producer for ESPN and a few months ago she produced her first ESPN game.

In everything she does, the one constant is Gearhart always mentions that she played softball at Oklahoma State. She still has a great bond with the program and says it is so rewarding as an alumnus to see something she and her team helped build come to fruition.

Gearhart truly believes what makes Oklahoma State and the Cowgirl softball program special is the bonds that are created not only amongst teammates, but the bond that is created amongst everyone who has been a part of the program.

"If you don't want a family type of atmosphere, Oklahoma State isn't for you," Gearhart said.

Link to the full interview: Mariah Gearhart Interview

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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