Karen Sohner German
Ohio State - Field Hockey and Basketball - 1960-1961

Before the Big Ten Conference, I started my college career at Wittenberg University, where I played all sports available at the time:  basketball, tennis, softball, volleyball and field hockey. Our opponents came from all schools in Ohio, including Ohio State. We bought our own uniforms -except field hockey tunics - and traveled in our coaches cars. If we needed to eat on a trip, we paid for our own food. There was nothing like McDonald's or Wendy's back then.

Basketball was the old half-court style game because it was thought that girls could not run the whole floor. They forgot that we played field hockey on a football field. Our competitions were also social events with tea parties after the competition.

I got married the summer just before my senior year and transferred to Ohio State for that year. I only participated in field hockey and basketball because I was looking for a job in the spring and had no time for softball. There were no regulations about sitting out a year after a transfer. I can't remember whether we won or lost, but I know I sure had a good time and loved the activity.