Family Atmosphere Helps International Student-Athletes Feel At Home In Stillwater

Golf is one of the most widely played sports around the world, reaching nearly every corner of the globe, and producing elite players from just about anywhere.

Under head coach Greg Robertson, Oklahoma State women's golf has recognized and fully embraced that sentiment to build upon one of the premiere golf programs in the United States.

This year's team includes ten golfers on its roster, with six different countries and four different continents represented. This season, the Cowgirls have won four different tournament titles and had multiple media outlets throughout the year rank them as the No. 1 team in the country.

Last year, with a roster just as diverse as the current one, OSU advanced to the National Championship and finished as the national runner-up after defeating No. 6 Auburn and No. 2 Duke in the quarterfinals and semifinals. In fact, every player in the Cowgirls' starting five throughout their run at the NCAA Championship was born in a different country.

Despite all of OSU's success on the course, everyone inside the program would agree that the most special aspect of this team is the unique bonds and relationships they make off of it.

"Building a family is the ultimate goal," Robertson said. "That's really what we're looking for. You want a group that roots for each other, helps each other out, are there for each other, and love each other."

Understandably, it can be challenging at times to navigate and mesh a team together that comes from such different backgrounds. With recruits arriving in Stillwater at 18 or 19 years old from their home, likely halfway across the world, it's tough for the international student-athletes to not feel some degree of anxiousness or homesickness.

There are also challenges the team faces daily, such as constantly having to communicate in their second language, adjusting to the class environment in America, or even just getting around town, as some of them don't possess cars while in Stillwater.

The great thing about the team's chemistry, however, is that nearly every athlete on the roster has felt these trials before and is willing to help others overcome their own problems together. In many ways, these shared experiences allow the team to become that much closer as they transition and become comfortable at Oklahoma State.

Sophomore Maddison Hinson-Tolchard arrived in Stillwater last season from Perth, Australia.

She understands first-hand the tribulations that international players might face from time to time, but also feels at ease in the fact that she has the full support from her teammates and coaches anytime she needs it.

"As internationals, being away from home is tough," Hinson-Tolchard said. "We all get homesick, but we're all there to support one another when it's tougher at times. The girls that are from America, they do such a good job at helping us out, like with rides to the course if we don't have cars. They were just really welcoming. They make our life a lot easier, so it's like a home away from home."

Along with uplifting support, this team's far-ranging backgrounds also allow the women to cultivate strong and unique friendships off the golf course. Everybody gets the opportunity to learn about each other's differing upbringing and cultures, which allows the team to not only connect over their similarities, but their differences too.

Freshman Clemence Martin, originally from Paris, France, believes her teammates' cultures help build a trusting, positive environment.

"It's a good thing," Martin said. "We have to learn different cultures. Obviously, our lifestyles are so different, but it (makes us more) trusting. We learn from each other, I think it creates more positive things."

Hinson-Tolchard also mentioned the positive impact of the team's makeup, as well as the funny memories they get from some of their more obscure habits.

"I think it allows us to have our individuality, as well," she said. "Then, we come over here, collectively come together, and are immersed in the American lifestyle. But, we still have our own sort of 'weird' things we got from back home, so it makes it more fun."

Hinson-Tolchard added "we're all our own best friends," and coach Robertson pointed to last year's NCAA Championship as the best example of that.

The entire group of girls who were not in the team's starting five for the event chose to fly out to Arizona to support and cheer for their teammates, despite having to pay for their own expenses and not having the opportunity to play. It was a special moment for everyone in the program to see that level of loyalty throughout the whole roster.

"What we saw last year at the NCAA Championship, I think that's a big reason we got to the finals," Robertson said. "We had all that support and had those players there rooting for each other. I don't think you can find any other team that has ever seen anything like that. That's so important, and we're lucky to have the group that we do."

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Family Atmosphere Helps International Student-Athletes Feel At Home In Stillwater

Players Mentioned

Maddison Hinson-Tolchard

Clemence Martin

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