Throughout the spring semester we are celebrating our senior student-athletes with a Senior Salute series. Today's featured senior is women's lacrosse's Sidney O'Rourke. O'Rourke is a statistical and data sciences major. 

Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster? 
A: I chose Wooster because of its strong mix of athletics and academics. I immediately felt at home when I stepped on campus because of how welcoming everyone was. I could tell how close the team was and how much support I would receive from them and everyone else at school.  

Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you? 
A: Being a Fighting Scot means always prioritizing excellence in everything I do. Whether on the field or in the classroom, I always want to try my best because I know everyone else around me is striving to be their best. As a student-athlete at Wooster, I always feel a part of a supportive community that allows me to thrive as an athlete.  

Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?  
A: Some of my favorite memories as a student at Wooster include all the trips I have taken with the team. The highlights include going to Florida sophomore year where we played new teams and spent time at the beach. It was snowing right before we left, so the sunshine was a nice change in March. We went to the Netherlands and Belgium to play teams and travel during fall break of my junior year. I got to see places I never would have without the trip and learn about how lacrosse is played in Europe.  

Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster? 
A: The best part about being a student-athlete at Wooster is all the life skills and connections I have gained through this experience. At Wooster, you are set up to become a leader and a hard worker with lots to contribute to the world. Being an athlete only helped with this as we continuously learn to work with new people and always strive toward a common goal.  

Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport? 
A: I'm also involved in Wooster Volunteer Network, intramural pickleball, and work for athletic communication.  

Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people and resources set you up to be successful at Wooster? 
A: The entire statistical and data sciences department has been very helpful to my endeavors as a student. I have been able to work with many dedicated professors who have helped me through hard classes and helped me find an Independent Study that I am passionate about. Coach Elizabeth Ford and Coach Katie Shideler have made my experience as an athlete here great. They have pushed me to become a better player and take more risks on and off the field.  

Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project? 
A: My Independent Study looks at county-level Republican voting trends from 2002 to 2024. My focus is specifically directed at how demographic variables along with views surrounding immigration have affected the Republican vote. It will be a quantitative analysis of the variables effect on Republican vote share through the years.  

Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?  
A: Something cool I did in my junior year was our trip to the NCAA Tournament. One of my favorite moments was watching the selection show with the team and cheering when our name was announced as a host. We then went on to win the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament game and do it on our home field. I will always remember this experience.   

Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year self? 
A: I would tell my first-year self to try things I am interested in even if it seems daunting. It is never that serious.  

Interested in becoming a Fighting Scot?       
High school prospective student-athletes can click here to learn about our recruiting process, click here to view the virtual campus tour, and click here to learn more about admissions events, tours, and visit programs.     

Transfer prospective student-athletes can click here to learn about our transfer recruiting process and use the links above for the virtual tour and admissions visit programs.