South Huntington Field Hockey Teams Tackle Mental Health Stigma At Annual Game

SOUTH HUNTINGTON, NY — Walt Whitman High School's varsity and junior varsity field hockey teams took the field for more than just a game earlier this month, using the occasion to raise awareness about student-athlete mental health.

The teams hosted their third annual Morgan's Message dedication game against Riverhead on Friday, Oct. 2, wearing special butterfly-logo T-shirts to promote conversations about mental health and the pressures young athletes face.

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The event focused on breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in athletics and reminding student-athletes that their identities and self-worth extend beyond their performance on the field.

Morgan's Message is a nonprofit organization established in memory of Morgan Rodgers, a former Duke University Division I lacrosse player who died by suicide at age 22 in 2019. Rodgers experienced anxiety, depression and isolation following a serious knee injury.

The organization advocates for mental health care to receive the same priority as physical health in athletics while creating supportive spaces for student-athletes to discuss their struggles.

Whitman JV field hockey head coach Madison Skelton, who also serves as South Huntington School District's districtwide social worker and social-emotional learning specialist, is an ambassador for Morgan's Message. Skelton became involved with the organization after experiencing challenges as a collegiate athlete living with Type 1 diabetes and recovering from a serious injury.

"She would blatantly say that because I was diabetic, I didn't have the full potential to be an athlete," Skelton said of a former coach. "When I was injured and had to have surgery, she didn't check up on me. She told me I was a horrible teammate because I had to go to physical therapy instead of practice. I was very depressed, especially post-surgery, because I couldn't play, and field hockey was my identity at the time. It was a huge part of who I was, and not being able to play was detrimental to my mental health. It felt like I had severed a connection with my team, and my coach was actively severing that connection as well."

Now, Skelton uses those experiences to encourage athletes to prioritize their emotional well-being and recognize that sports are only one part of their lives.

"I think it's so important to remind student-athletes that they're so much more than their sport and so much more than just an athlete. It's a piece of who they are and only a piece of their story," Skelton said.

She said she reinforces mental health awareness throughout the season through activities designed to strengthen team connections and build confidence.

Skelton also visits other Whitman athletic teams to offer support and encourage open discussions about emotional well-being.

"It gives them a dedicated space to discuss how to feel better on and off the court. At the end of the day, sports end, but life carries on," she said.

Whitman varsity field hockey co-captains Molly Gorman and Emma O'Reilly said having opportunities to discuss the challenges athletes face can make a difference.

"Athletes struggle all the time with injuries and school issues that they feel like they can't really talk about, especially because they feel like they need to give 100% all the time and hide what they are going through," Gorman said. "I think it's important to show that you're not alone, that we all struggle, and that you always have someone to talk to."

O'Reilly said the pressure to perform can sometimes come from athletes themselves.

"It's performance that makes me feel the most anxious, wanting to do well, but not always feeling like I do. But my coaches are amazing, and our athletic department all around is amazing for people that I'm able to reach out to if I need to."

Through the annual dedication game, the Whitman teams hope to reinforce the message that student-athletes do not have to face mental health challenges alone.