Antiracism Statement

Athletics Director Doug Zipp and Head Coaches

In athletics, we bring people together from different backgrounds with the primary goal of developing a team. Through the teaching of leadership, collaboration, and perseverance, we strive to achieve a common goal. We do this by working with our teammates, unified by the gear we wear – regardless of race or background, just the commitment to be there for one another and to persevere.

We cannot ignore the historical, permeating, racial injustices and inequalities happening in our country. We must be clear – it cannot be tolerated. We consistently ask our student-athletes to hold themselves to the highest standards – academically, athletically, and socially – and to represent Ohio Wesleyan with pride and excellence. As coaches and administrators, it is our duty to educate ourselves and speak up. We must do better.

Now is the time to take lessons from sport and push for a common goal. We need to demonstrate basic human kindness and work to confront systemic racism that preserves racial disparity in our department, campus, and community. It is in this acknowledgment that we commit to the challenge of meeting a new standard – where we will acknowledge that our black and other marginalized populations of student-athletes, coaches, and staff carry the added burden of persistent racial injustice and violence in our country and commit to challenging our own bias. We can no longer be silent when we see suffering, oppression, and exclusion of any other marginalized person.

Our black and other marginalized populations of student-athletes, coaches, and staff are hurting right now. We want them to know we see them, hear them, and are here for them. We must stand against hatred and racial injustice together.

We strive to be an inclusive community that engages groups of diverse individuals and allows them to connect in ways that increase each participant's awareness, knowledge, and empathetic understanding to achieve exceptional results. Please find detailed information about our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy Statement here.

Doug Zipp, Director of Athletics
Michael Taylor, Assistant Director of Athletics
Todd Miller, Athletic Trainer
Kirsta Cobb, Volleyball
Mike Plantholt, Men's Lacrosse
Richard Hawes, Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving
Jay Martin, Men's Soccer
Becca Madison, Women's Soccer
Brenda Semit, Field Hockey
Tyler Mott, Baseball
Paige Messersmith, Women's Lacrosse
Mike DeWitt, Men's Basketball
Stacey Ungashick Lobdell, Women's Basketball
Kris Boey, Men's & Women's Track & Field
Tom Watts, Football
Cassie Cunningham, Softball
Paul Reid, Wrestling
Ben Carlson, Men's And Women's Cross Country
Rob Postma, Tennis

June 15, 2020