Ohio Athletic Conference

Mount Union's Tori Sickafoose named OAC Scholar Athlete of the Month

 

Written by Casey Kropka, Mount Union Athletic Communications

WESTERVILLE, Ohio — Mount Union softball senior Tori Sickafoose has been named the Ohio Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete of the Month for June.

With three NCAA softball tournament appearances, two OAC tournament championship titles, and a 3.98 GPA in primary education and intervention specialist, it would seem that Sickafoose had an easy, straight path through college, but it was quite the opposite for the utility athlete from Magnolia, Ohio.

Just like most athletes, Sickafoose had adversity she had to face, but for her it came in two waves. As she committed to Mount Union in her senior high school season, a torn ACL ended her high school career early.

Sickafoose battled back and made it through her freshman year in college. Before the start of school in the fall, she had found out she had retorn her ACL. “It came at a time when I just felt like I was back to my old self. It was so hard for me because I didn’t feel like I deserved it, and I felt myself questioning a lot of the time like why me?”

But for Sickafoose, an army of teammates, family, and coaches was there to lift her up. “Through this time my friends and family were my biggest supporters. My friends would drive me to my field experience for school and even to my physical therapy since I couldn’t drive myself.” Sickafoose commented, “And I knew I had the support of Coach Simons, which was a game changer for me mentally.”

“She showed the team what perseverance looks like.” Head Coach Meghan Simons knew what kind of leadership Sickafoose had coming for the team. “She earned the respect of her teammates through her work ethic and voice on the field.”

While Sickafoose couldn’t play her sophomore year, she never missed practices, games, or meetings, which kept her sane and able to focus on school but also allowed her to grow and learn more about herself, coaches and teammates, and the game while the Purple Raiders went on to win the OAC Tournament and appeared in the NCAA Tournament.

“With the injuries my sophomore year, I also had to prioritize taking care of my body before and after practices, games, or lifts. For that I give credit to our amazing athletic trainers at Mount, especially Rachel. She helped me through the injuries and helped me feel the best I could while allowing me to feel any way I needed to feel.” And for Sickafoose, that got her back to being able to play her junior year, being named a captain.

The next step for Sickafoose was to get back on the field with the girls. “My parents have always instilled in me that being a member of a team means knowing your role and carrying out that role to the best of my ability. In our program at Mount, we are able to compete within our own team, and that is something that makes our program so successful.” Commented Sickafoose, and for her she played many different roles her junior year, playing four different positions, appearing in 35 games for the Raiders going 15-1 overall in the OAC winning the regular season title and making an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

“Coming back from injuries my junior year, I was grateful to be on the field in any way I could be, whether that was as an infielder, outfielder, or hitter. Coming into my senior year, we had a ton of talent returning and more coming in, so we had many girls that could play multiple positions. I am super grateful for my upbringing and getting to play multiple positions at a young age, which prepared me to feel comfortable in any position and also prepared me to do what was best for my team.”

For Sickafoose, her senior year, that role was second base and batting right behind some of the big hitters for Mount Union. Sickafoose held steady for Mount Union, batting .304 with 21 RBIs and 17 walks.

But for Sickafoose and the Raiders one more test appeared late in the season, as one more tournament title would be needed to make the NCAA Tournament. The Raiders did just that, running through the tournament as Sickafoose and senior teammate Adri George got to put the cap and gown on after winning the title and celebrating with the team.

“Tori’s dedication to the program over four years was nothing short of extraordinary.” Commented Simons, “One ACL injury is grueling enough, but back-to-back ACL injuries are a lot to overcome, and Tori showed a different kind of grit and incredible mental toughness.”

Sickafoose finishes her undergrad as a three-time Academic All-OAC honoree, a 2025 College Sports Communicators All-District team member, and the OAC Scholar Athlete of the Month award winner. She will be right down the road in Green Elementary School as a second-grade math teacher starting this fall.

While Sickafoose may not have the same athletic accolades as some others in the program, her leadership and the way she has faced adversity may prove to hold equal significance.

 

 

2024-25 OAC Scholar Athletes of the Month