The resilience of a Buckeye
The resilience of a Buckeye
As told by Caroline Triner
The Ohio State community is full of people with a strong sense of compassion, leadership and integrity — generations of talented individuals who embody everything Buckeye excellence means. For a perfect example, look no further than Kathy Kisabeth ’68.
Kathy grew up in a small rural town where she spent most of her time outdoors. One of her first Christmas presents was a football, which led to a lifelong love of sports and physical activity. By the time she reached eighth grade, Kathy already knew what she wanted to do after high school: attend Ohio State and major in Physical Education.
Her father was surprised by the decision, as no one in their family had attended college before. Her guidance counselor told her father not to worry, because Kathy would eventually flunk out and move back home to marry a farmer. A card at Kathy’s orientation included predictions based on demographics and showed her chances of graduating: 1 in 10. With so many factors working against her, Kathy could’ve given up on her dreams. Instead, she decided to work even harder to prove them wrong.
As she began her studies in Physical Education at Ohio State, Kathy recalled a piece of advice she'd received from her former PE teacher: get as much hands-on experience as possible. Kathy took her mentor’s words of wisdom to heart and tried out for as many sports as she could. Even though she’d only played softball before college, she earned a spot on the softball, basketball and field hockey teams.
Women’s sports looked very different back in the 60s. They didn't have trainers or conditioning — rather, they “played you into shape.” There were no varsity sports for women. Instead, they were all club teams. They weren’t provided with much equipment or padding, which made it difficult for players like Kathy, who was the goalie on her field hockey team and third baseman and catcher for her softball team.
No challenge could stop Kathy — she was determined to view every obstacle as an opportunity for growth. She took academics as seriously as she took athletics, driven by those odds: 1 in 10. Only male athletes were offered tutoring services, so she spent every weekend she wasn’t away at a game or match studying in the library. For the first nine quarters, she would tally every time she saw someone drop out and increase her likelihood of graduating.
Kathy wanted to make the most of her time at Ohio State. She gave her all not just to her classes, but to her teammates, too. They began to look up to her, admiring her hard work and dedication — and to each of her teammates, the only correct choice for captain her senior year was Kathy. She took on being captain of the softball, basketball and field hockey teams with the same commitment to success as she did everything else.
Kathy graduated from Ohio State in 1968, and by then, she had learned many lessons that she would carry with her for the rest of her life. Playing softball, basketball and field hockey taught her teamwork and how to cultivate lasting relationships, and being named captain strengthened her confidence and honed her leadership skills. After graduation, she spent two years in the Peace Corps, taught at two different universities and became a women’s volleyball coach.
“Being a Buckeye is something to be so proud of. It’s what allowed me to live the life I live and gave me the education I needed to succeed. I love the motto ‘Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye,’ because it’s true — I still bleed scarlet and gray, and I always will.”
Kathy continues to honor her experience as a student-athlete at Ohio State by giving back. She’s a member of Varsity O, and she advocates for female athletes and donates regularly to the softball, basketball and field hockey programs. She encourages girls to get involved in sports and find the right coaches who inspire them, as she believes that was the key to her personal growth.
Kathy’s story reminds us of what makes our community so special — Buckeyes are tough nuts, and through summer’s heat and winter’s cold, we remain resilient and tenacious, no matter the odds.
Story collected by Caroline Triner, written by Mollie Hiss, edited by Will Hejduk
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If you’d like to share your own Buckeye story, call the Engagement Center at 614-292-2281 or email us at osuaa@osu.edu.