In The Nest: Katie Cox a Consistent Contributor to BGSU Women's Soccer's Success
Medical Mutual
9/6/2023
Katie Cox (Columbus, Ohio) moved into the BGSU women's soccer starting lineup way back in the fall of 2019, and remains there to this day. She has played in 75 career matches, starting 64, and is poised to end her career ranked very high on both of those BGSU lists. And, Katie has helped the Falcons go 29-6-4 (.795) in MAC regular-season play during her first four seasons in the Orange and Brown…
Q: Did you do anything fun this summer?
Cox: This summer was pretty relaxing for me but still enjoyable. I went to my grandma's lake house a few times which was fun. Other than that, I played summer soccer and worked as a lifeguard..
Q: When did you start playing soccer and how did you wind up gravitating toward the sport?
Cox: I was 2 or 3 years old when I started playing soccer. My parents put me in a rec league since they put my older sister in one and she enjoyed it. I played other sports like basketball and softball growing up, but I ended up quitting at a pretty young age to only focus on soccer. I guess I have always had a passion for soccer that set it apart from other sports that I played.
Q: You are from the Columbus area and graduated from Granville High School. What is something people should know about your high school?
Cox: I guess people should know that it exists (lol). Granville is a small town outside of Columbus and most people haven't heard of it.
Q: Your sister, Nikki, also played soccer at Granville and at BGSU. Did you play together on any teams when you were young?
Cox: The first time we played on the same team was in high school when I was a freshman, and she was a senior. However, we grew up practicing together all the time. I would practice up with her club team often when I was younger.
Q: As you mentioned, you and Nikki played together for one season in high school. And, you won the league championship. What was it like for the two of you to get to play together that season?
Cox: It was really cool, because we had been waiting for a long time to finally play on the same team. We got to play with one another in the midfield and use our chemistry to help the team become successful. We ended up making a historical run to the state finals which was a moment I will never forget.
Q: When and how did you first become aware of BGSU women's soccer?
Cox: I was first recruited by BGSU after a club showcase my freshman year of high school, so the team was one of the first colleges on my radar. The school ended up checking a lot of my boxes, so I decided to take a visit to the campus!
Q: What made you decide that you ultimately wanted to attend BGSU and play soccer for the Falcons?
Cox: After I took my visit to the campus, I liked the school a lot more than I thought I would. I liked the team and the culture that they had, as they were a winning program. It was closer to home than my other options which was something that I wanted. Also, my sister had recently transferred here to BGSU a few months before I committed, so that was another reason that set BGSU apart from other schools.
Q: Once you got to BGSU, you and your sister were on the team together for three years, and you won the MAC title and advanced to the NCAA Championships in all three of those years. What was it like being on the same team with Nikki again, and experiencing such unbelievable success together?
Cox: I would say that it was cool to experience something so rare with my sister. Not a lot of people can experience that kind of success in general, but being able to do it with Nikki made it even more special. After high school, we did not think we would ever play on the same team ever again. It's crazy how things can change and how ultimately, we ended up getting three more seasons together than we thought.
Q: You have scored some big goals here at BGSU. Your first career game-winning goal came in the MAC Tournament semifinals against Buffalo your freshman year, and in your sophomore season, you had the GWG in three consecutive games, including in the MAC Championship vs. Ball State. What does it feel like to score big goals in such important games like that?
Cox: I don’t score a lot of goals in general, so when I do, it's cool that I can pull it off in big games. It gives me more confidence in myself and in my abilities. These goals were really exciting for me and something that I will never forget.
Q: You are using your ‘Covid Year’ and returning to BGSU for a fifth season with the Falcons this fall. What went into your decision to return?
Cox: I feel like it would be a missed opportunity had I not taken my fifth year. You only get to play college soccer once, and I had no urge to cut this experience short. I also feel like the team has some unfinished business to take care of and I want to be a part of it.
What a strike by Katie Cox for our second goal today!#AyZiggy | ?????? pic.twitter.com/PIqYsQp5vL
— BGSU Women’s Soccer (@BGSU_WSoccer) August 27, 2023
Q: Do you have any pre-game superstitions or routines?
Cox: I try to not have too many superstitions because I used to overdo it when I was younger. Right now, I wear the same hairstyle every game.
Q: Who inspired or encouraged you the most athletically when you were growing up?
Cox: I would say that my parents definitely inspired and encouraged me the most growing up. They put me into soccer at a really young age and encouraged me to keep playing as I grew up. They even let me play for the highest-level club soccer team in our area, which was about an hour away from our house. My mom especially encouraged me by driving me an hour to practice four or five times a week, and traveling all across the country with me to go to showcases.
Q: How would you describe your style of play?
Cox: My go-to description would be scrappy and aggressive. However, I pride myself on being composed and keeping possession of the ball on offense.
Q: What is your go-to restaurant and/or meal?
Cox: Right now, I really like Sushi. My favorite restaurant back in Columbus is Fusian, where you can build your own sushi.
Q: You are a Fashion Merchandising and Product Development major here at BGSU. What made you decide to study in that field, and what are your career goals after college?
Cox: I honestly decided to study this because I really like fashion and clothes. I took an intro class and thought it was interesting, so I thought, ‘why not?’ After college, I would like to play professional soccer, but regarding other career goals, I think it would be cool to be a clothing designer.
Q: Where is your favorite place on campus and why?
Cox: The new business building. It is the best place on campus! I like to do my schoolwork there.
Q: Who is the funniest player on the team?
Cox: I would say Jaden Frigerio. She is one of my closest friends and we are always laughing when we are together.
Q: Describe Coach Walker in one word.
Cox: Passionate.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a part of the BGSU women's soccer program?
Cox: I like being a part of the team culture. I think our team has something different that sets us apart from other programs. We have a tight-knit group of girls that I love spending time with.
Q: What are your goals, both personally and for the team, this season?
Cox: My main goal is to win the MAC regular season and tournament titles. And, I want to be able to say that we won an NCAA Tournament game, which has never been done before in our program's history.
