Katie Schumacher-Cawley
Katie Schumacher-Cawley/Courtesy of InstagramPenn State Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley Three months after being diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, history was made Sunday night.
Schumaker-Cawley, 44, became the first female head coach to win a national championship since the NCAA tournament began in 1981, when her Penn State Nittany Lions defeated Louisville on Sunday, Dec. 22 College Cardinals.
“There were a lot of people before me who paved the way for me,” Schumaker-Cawley told ESPN after winning Penn State’s eighth national championship in history. “I’m very grateful and hopefully more people will want to coach and be a part of it in the future.”
After leaving the courtroom, Schumaker-Cowley gushed about the support her Penn State family has given her during her battle with cancer.
Many celebrities have spoken out about their personal battles with breast cancer over the years. Julia Louis-Dreyfus announced her breast cancer diagnosis via Instagram in September 2017. Nearly a year later, she successfully defeated the disease and returned to work on “Veep.” “It sounds a little cliche, but then there’s something […]
“I’m fortunate to be surrounded by so many great people on this team and on my staff,” Schumaker-Cawley told reporters. “I’m really lucky to be surrounded by a great group of people who go above and beyond.”
Schumaker-Cawley also paid tribute to young cancer patients, whom she has encountered frequently during her own journey.
“I’m inspired by sick children,” she added. “I was being treated at Penn State, and every time I walked into the hospital, I would pass Children’s Hospital. Of course, if I could be an inspiration to someone, then I’d take that. But I feel good and I’m lucky to have the people around me. people. I think that’s why we’re successful.
Schumacher-Cawley, a former Penn State volleyball player who took over as head coach in January 2022, announced in October that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
Courtesy Marcus Freeman/Instagram Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman also has an impressive roster off the field. Freeman, 38, became the head football coach of the University of Notre Dame in December 2021 and married his wife, Joanna Freeman, in 2010. a student of the university […]
“This news was a lot to process, and as you can imagine, it brought up a range of emotions,” she shared via Instagram. “But I am doing it with strength, determination and unwavering hope. We will draw inspiration from the many people in our lives who have battled cancer and won.
She added: “I know this journey will have its challenges, but I also know that with the care and strength of those around me, I am ready to face it. I also want to take a moment to honor those who have gone through this before me. Thank you to all the women and men. The strength, courage, and determination you have shown are not only inspiring, but have helped drive the incredible progress we are making in medicine today. Your journey has led to better treatments and outcomes. It paved the way, and I’m deeply grateful for that.
Schumaker-Cawley only missed a handful of practices while she considered her diagnosis and on-field responsibilities — something that didn’t go unnoticed by her players.
“Even if she wasn’t feeling well, you could never tell,” outside hitter Jesse Mruzik told reporters Pittsburgh Post-Gazette In a report published on Thursday, December 19.
