Hope Angioletti is all too familiar with that undue and unrelenting feeling of tension, the one that stems from an impossible quest for perfection and a constant fear of failure. That stress, ironically, was exacerbated by the pursuit of her passions.
The John Jay-East Fishkill student juggles the responsibilities of playing three sports while maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average.
John Jay’s Hope Angioletti makes the play at second base against Mahopac’s Ava Lichtenberger during Monday’s game on April 24, 2023.
For those who successfully straddle the line of jock and super scholar, it’s not uncommon to endure long and physically tiresome days followed by late evenings of study that easily can turn into early mornings. And, competing at the varsity level in each of the scholastic sports seasons ensures there seldom is an extended rest period, which can take an emotional toll.
“It was a lot for me,” said Angioletti, a senior who has battled anxiety while starring for the high school field hockey, basketball and softball teams. “There was always stress and this feeling like, I always have to do well and it’s all on my shoulders, or I’m gonna let everyone down.”
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It was during the 10th grade when that burden became unbearable. She was fortunate that teammates and loved ones noticed the changes, which initiated her seeking treatment.
“I think everyone faces some kind of challenge in life and, at some point, we all need help,” said Hannah Greer, a close friend and softball teammate. “It’s important that people realize that everyone is dealing with something, and it’s okay. You’re loved and appreciated.”
John Jay softball head coach, Larry Brooks gives second baseman, Hope Angioletti a pat on the shoulder before she takes to the field during Monday’s game versus Mahopac on April 24, 2023. The game was played in support of Morgan’s Message, an organization which raises awareness for mental illness in young athletes.
It’s why Angioletti smiled proudly on Monday, standing on a softball field decorated with balloons and signs, and spotting a cluster of home spectators wearing teal-colored shirts with “MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS” emblazoned on the back.
Story continues
John Jay dedicated its game to mental health awareness, the event spearheaded by assistant coach Erin McHugh and supported wholeheartedly by the team. The softball program has partnered with Morgan’s Message, a nonprofit organization that seeks to spread the word and spark conversations about mental illness, particularly among young athletes.
The foundation was started in honor of a college athlete who committed suicide four years ago and her memory, players said, is a reminder of why initiatives like these are necessary.
The T-shirts, worn by the team over its uniform tops before and after the game, featured the John Jay High School emblem alongside the Morgan’s Message butterfly logo, indicating their alliance.
“I have a personal connection with it, and I know a lot of us have struggled with mental health or know people who do,” said McHugh, a former John Jay softball standout who went on to play at Marist College. “It’s something I’m passionate about and, as a coach, it’s important to have a positive impact on and off the field.”
More than 20% of Americans struggle with mental health issues, according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness. And secrecy, often fueled by feelings of embarrassment, can be an impediment to treatment.
“Athletes aren’t necessarily viewed as people who deal with mental health problems, but it’s prevalent and that needs to be recognized,” said Larry Brooks, head coach of the John Jay softball team who also is a longtime school psychologist within the Wappingers district. “We also want kids to know that if there’s a problem, there is help and people who care, and there are resources available to them.”
It also is important, Greer said, that friends and family keep a watchful eye on each other and be attune to even the subtle changes in demeanor.
Action from Monday’s softball game between Mahopac and John Jay on April 24, 2023. The game was played in support of Morgan’s Message, an organization which raises awareness for mental illness in young athletes.
“Sometimes people don’t want to talk about what’s bothering them, or they think it’ll be a burden on you,” she said. “So, we have to look out for each other and try to pick up on anything that seems off.”
‘You’re not alone in this’
Morgan Rodgers was a Duke University lacrosse player who excelled academically and whom friends described as bubbly and charismatic. But that effervescent personality veiled an inner turmoil that was compounded by an unyielding pressure to perform. Even Morgan’s twin sister was unaware of the depths of her depression.
Morgan Rodgers, right, and her twin sister Aberle pose together in a family photograph.
It wasn’t until after the 22-year-old took her life in 2019 that loved ones discovered the extent of her struggles, her mother said.
A year after her daughter’s death, Dona Rodgers founded Morgan’s Message to help encourage discussions about mental illness among young people and uplift those battling it. The Virginia-based foundation has grown quickly and now is linked with hundreds of organizations, including high schools and colleges across the country.
Locally, Bard and Vassar College are among the schools involved, as is Our Lady of Lourdes High School, whose girls lacrosse program has promoted the foundation for years. Lourdes boys basketball coach Jim Santoro’s wife, Lynn, was Morgan Rodger’s aunt.
John Jay’s Hannah Greer at bat during Monday’s game versus Mahopac on April 24, 2023. The game was played in support of Morgan’s Message, an organization which raises awareness for mental illness in young athletes.
“If you’ve made it far in sports, you’ve learned your whole life to ‘tough it out,’” Dona Rodgers said of a potential hurdle athletes face in seeking help. “Mental toughness is brought up constantly, so an athlete might feel weak admitting they’re going through something mentally. But there needs to be an understanding that it’s not weakness. Mental illness should be viewed in the same way as an injury.”
It helped, Angioletti said, when she opened up to teammates and learned that many of them relate to her and faced similar difficulties. They also were a shoulder to lean on, in the figurative sense. On the field, too, she became more at ease with accepting that the team’s success is a shared responsibility.
Being coached by a psychologist, the players said, is a convenient resource they’re fortunate to have.
“Knowing that you’re not in this alone and you’ve got the support of people who genuinely care about you is a tremendous help,” said Angioletti, who recently committed to play field hockey at Hartwick College. “I also write my thoughts in a journal and that really does make a difference.”
The John Jay-East Fishkill softball team poses on its field, clad in Morgan’s Message “Mental Health Matters” T-shirts, before hosting Mahopac on April 24, 2023. The team dedicated its game to raising awareness for mental health among athletes.
Considerable progress has been made in raising awareness and this generation, Dona Rodgers said, is “making a dent in the stigma” attached to mental illness.
Several professional athletes have spoken publicly in recent years about their struggles. Among the most prominent are NBA players DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love, tennis superstar Naomi Osaka and Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles and Aly Raisman.
“As a coach, you have to take a step back sometimes and remember the players are people before they’re athletes,” McHugh said. “The sport is what you do, not who you are.”
Bouncing back
Nicole Barosa pitched a three-hit shutout and the offense erupted in the third inning as the Patriots capped the event Monday with a 5-0 home win over Mahopac.
John Jay’s Nicole Barosa pitches during Monday’s game versus Mahopac on April 24, 2023.
The right-hander was masterful, using off-speed pitches and breaking balls to induce soft contact, resulting in several groundball outs.
“Nicole is so humble,” said Greer, a University of Pittsburgh-bound shortstop, “but she’s a rock out there and we look up to her.”
John Jay scored five in the third inning, beginning with Morgan Doughty’s two-run single that sent home Makenzy Lynch and Leah Doughty. Lyla Dwyer drove in a run with an infield single and Arielle Reddick lined a two-run single for the Patriots (5-2).
John Jay’s Arielle Reddick at bat during Monday’s game versus Mahopac on April 24, 2023. The game was played in support of Morgan’s Message, an organization which raises awareness for mental illness in young athletes.
This victory on a feel-good afternoon, players said, was a necessary rebound from a frustrating 12-run loss to rival Roy C. Ketcham last Friday.
“A win like this shows our resilience,” Angioletti said. “League play is obviously important, and we need wins like these against quality opponents. That was a bad loss, but we bounced back. That’s always important.”
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Morgan’s Message: John Jay attempts to rid stigma of mental illness
