WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 25, 2025) -- Over the course of the fall season and beyond, several King's College teams have partnered with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to raise awareness surrounding the mental health of student-athletes. Through a series of dedicated games, the collaboration aims to normalize conversations around mental well-being and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health.
 
As part of the campaign, teams have worn shirts with the phrase "Mindset Wins Championships" during warm-ups at their designated Mental Health Awareness games. These shirts were also sold to the public, with proceeds split evenly between on-campus mental health resources and a contribution to Morgan's Message.

Ahead of each contest, an announcement has also been read to honor and provide resources for Morgan's Message. The nonprofit organization was created in memory of Morgan Rodgers, a former Duke University women's lacrosse student-athlete who tragically passed away in July 2019 after battling mental health struggles. Although Morgan's life was cut short, her legacy of unconditional love remains. The organization was founded by her family and former teammates with the mission to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health, normalize conversations, and ensure mental health is treated equally to physical health for all student-athletes.
 
SAAC president Katey Shoemaker - a member of the field hockey and track and field teams at King's - highlighted the impact of awareness games. "Mental Health Awareness games show that our strength goes far beyond the scoreboard," Shoemaker said. "They give us a chance to come together as athletes, teammates, and friends to break the stigma and prioritize the well-being of all athletes."
 
Coaches across multiple programs echoed that sentiment. Women's soccer head coach Jessica Lingenfelter stressed the importance of normalizing help-seeking behaviors. "For KCWS, mental health awareness is important because it normalizes asking for help and showing up for teammates and each other when they are going through hard times," Lingenfelter explained.
 
Field hockey head coach Kirby Szalkowski reflected on the broader message behind the initiative. "Raising awareness for mental health reminds our student-athletes that who they are as people will always matter more than any game result," Szalkowski noted. "It helps us build a culture where honesty, support, and asking for help are the norm."
 
Men's soccer head coach Brandon Raynor pointed to the unique pressures student-athletes face. "They deal with many highs and many lows on the athletic side as well as what their challenges may be in the classroom and being away from home," Raynor observed. "It is important to let them know that struggles are normal and we can benefit from talking more about them."
 
The King's ice hockey programs embraced the theme of community through their Mental Health Awareness efforts, with women's ice hockey head coach Quinn La Rock stressing that the event was "incredibly meaningful for our team to have the chance to remind our community that seeking help is a sign of strength and that supporting one another matters."

Men's ice hockey head coach Race Bennett thanked SAAC and everyone who was involved in planning the event, while adding that "advocating for mental health is a very important thing to our program as a whole. We hope this event encouraged all members of our community to support one another and seek help when needed." 
 
The Monarchs have several additional Mental Health Awareness contests planned in the upcoming months, with women's basketball dedicating their game against DeSales to Morgan's Message on January 28. Three days later, the men's basketball team will raise awareness for the well-being of student-athletes when they host FDU-Florham on January 31.
 
Spring sports will also join the cause, with the King's College track and field teams dedicating their home-opening meet to mental health awareness. The Monarchs' men's and women's tennis teams also plan on continuing the dialogue in a home match to be announced at a later date.
 
The campaign reflects the King's College athletic department and SAAC's ongoing commitment to fostering a supportive environment for its student-athletes where mental health is prioritized.
 
For more information on Morgan's Message, visit www.morgansmessage.org.
 
On-campus support for all King's College students is available through the Counseling Center by contacting (570) 208-5873 or emailing counselingcenterstaff@kings.edu.