SUWANEE, Georgia --Sarah Wettemann, the Sports Information Director for Colorado College, was interviewed for Women's History Month.
In honor of Women's History Month, we interviewed a dynamic woman by the name of Sarah Wettemann. Sarah is the Sports Information Director for Colorado College and plays a pivotal role in the athletics department's success. We explored what led her to work in sports and how to give our women in sports the credit they deserve. We started by learning about the early stages of her life and who inspired her.
"As crazy as it sounds, I would not be where I am or even working in sports if it weren’t for Dave Roberts and the 2004 Red Sox," said Wettemann. "Growing up as a sports fan, some of my earliest memories are of learning math by reading box scores. Prior to 2004, my mom and dad were already Red Sox fans but it’s hard to follow a team that hasn’t won a championship in 86 years. But that all changed when Dave Roberts stole second base, a catalyst for what would become one of the greatest comebacks in sports history."
"Without that singular moment, the rebirth of a dynasty, there is no telling whether the team would have gone on to win three more world series titles, my parents would have followed them as closely, leading me to do the same," said Wettemann. "Without that moment I wouldn’t have developed the passion and love for sports that inspired me to pursue a career in athletics."
You would think this would end up being one of her greatest moments in sports histroy but Sarah begs to differ. She told us that there were two events in her life that rivaled the Red Sox spark in 2004, but we focus in on something that shaped her professional career.
"As a part of completing my degree, I wrote a thesis defining the culture of Oklahoma State athletics, and in doing so I interviewed a variety of current and former athletes, students, and coaches, including Robin Ventura," said Wettemann. "Getting the opportunity to sit across from a Gold Spikes Award Winner, Three-time All-American, Dick Howser Trophy Winner, 2-time MLB All-Star, Gold Medal winning Olympian, Six-time Gold Glove Award Winner, and College Baseball Hall of Fame Winner, and have a conversation about the institution that built both of us, and so many others, was incredible."
Those interactions with some of the greats added fuel to the fire for Wettemann and when asked how we can continue to push the spotlight to women in sports she stated, "To quote Rebecca Welton from Ted Lasso, 'make yourself big.'"
Wettemann noted that Welton plays the owner of British football club AFC Richmond in the TV series, a male dominated industry in which she is constantly fighting to prove she is an equal in. "I think the most important thing we can do for women in sports is to continue encouraging girls and women in sports to take up space and pursue their passion," said Wettemann. "We belong in the same spaces as men, no matter how intimidating it may be, all you have to do is make yourself big."
