Pomona-Pitzer baseball players jump for joy as they opened this season with a doubleheader win against East Texas Baptist.
Hear from our Sagehen athletes about the power of Pomona philanthropy.
Pomona-Pitzer women's basketball team erupts in cheers as they advance to the 2025 SCIAC tournament semifinals.
Pomona-Pitzer women's soccer team celebrates their victory in the NCAA match-up against UC Santa Cruz.
Pomona-Pitzer football team is all smiles after capturing the 2024 SCIAC Championship.
As Pomona College gets ready to celebrate Sagehen Athletics Giving Day on Thursday, March 6, we asked some of our student-athletes to share how our athletics program, bolstered by the Pomona community’s generosity, helps provide them with an unmatched college experience in competition, the classroom and beyond. Here’s what they had to say.
Joe Cookson ’25, men’s basketball
Joe Cookson is no stranger to shining on the court and in the classroom. Cookson, a mathematics major, competed in NCAA tournaments his freshman and sophomore year, but regardless of that achievement he remains grounded: “I have learned to value the process over the results, and Pomona has provided the space for all student-athletes to grow and develop in pursuit of athletic excellence.”
Cookson says the impact of giving to the Sagehen Athletics program goes beyond facility upgrades, adding that “(philanthropic support) elevates the athletics community by creating environments where all students can not only train but also come together to support and watch their peers compete.”
Katie Drais ’26, women’s basketball
Whether it’s Rivalry Day or just a normal practice, Katie Drais always brings her A-game. “I have never been a part of a group of such driven and positive individuals,” she says. “It inspires me to show up as my best every day.” This seems to be a common value her team shares and presents in many ways, including singing and dancing parties in the locker room after a game — win or lose. Drais shares that opportunities to travel to play opponents have completely changed her NCAA Division III experience, which wouldn’t be possible without additional donor support.
Drais and her team spend hours training in the CARW, and while the weight room is one of her favorite places in the facility, she says, “The greatest part of the CARW is the mural of former Pomona-Pitzer athletes — it’s a reminder of the history here, and it makes me want to leave my mark.”
Hannah Gough ’25, women’s lacrosse
Hannah Gough, who moved from Australia to attend Pomona, is set to graduate this year and is grateful that the athletics program has become her home away from home. She says it’s rare to be part of an athletic community that cares about students’ personal development. “The program really focuses on the holistic experience of the student-athlete. I don’t believe I would be the leader and teammate I am today without having learned compassion, empathy and community from my teammates and coaches alike,” Gough says.
For the lacrosse team, Gough credits the experiences of training and travel for their first top 10 national ranking in the program’s history. “For many athletes, the critical resources for training, team preparation, competition and recovery that the College provides make us feel like we are taken seriously and appreciated.”
JC Ng ’25, men’s baseball
After almost four years as a Sagehen athlete, JC Ng says that nothing compares to the student-athlete experience that Sagehens get at Pomona College. “I think Pomona-Pitzer’s commitment to holistic athletic development is why our teams are seeing so much success.” A recent milestone for the baseball team was last year’s opening series against East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas.
Ng says beating a nationally ranked team on their home field has been his “favorite memory by far.” He says his teammates have experienced the benefits from the performance center, training rooms and the use of technology on the field firsthand. “I could not have asked for more from a collegiate athletics program,” Ng says.
Join us on Sagehen Athletics Giving Day by making a gift to one of our 21 varsity teams, club sports or the Athletic Wellness Fund. By donating today, you are investing in the success and well-being of our student-athletes, providing them with the tools they need to compete and succeed at the highest levels.