Coming Together To Fight
April 12, 2024 | Softball
SEC unites to raise ovarian cancer awareness on All for Alex weekend.
STARKVILLE – The Southeastern Conference is set to honor the legacy of former Mississippi State softball student-athlete Alex Wilcox and raise awareness for ovarian cancer as its 13 programs participate in the fourth-annual All For Alex weekend. Every SEC team is set to wear either teal uniforms or accents on Saturday as the league unites to remember Wilcox and bring awareness to the disease that has affected her and so many others.
Wilcox shined in her freshman season with the Bulldogs, all while battling ovarian cancer and thriving academically. The outfielder's coaches and teammates rallied around her, wearing teal uniforms during all midweek matchups in 2018 to bring awareness to the disease as part of the "No One Fights Alone" campaign.
Head coach Samantha Ricketts, who was an assistant with the program at the time, said that Wilcox's desire to play at MSU encouraged her to continue moving forward and explained the radiant light that the rookie was in the clubhouse.
"She just found so much joy in playing softball and being around her teammates that it was hard for you not to smile when you were around her, and she never had a bad day, which was just unreal to think of," Ricketts said.
Wilcox made collegiate starts against Drake and UMass Lowell during the early part of the 2018 season. Her third game in the starting lineup came against Samford in Birmingham, Alabama, and her family was able to make the 150-mile trip from her hometown of Brantley to see the big moment.
Wilcox passed away on June 25, 2018, at the age of 18 after more than two years of fighting her courageous battle.
In her short time on earth, the young student-athlete made a lasting impact across the world of college softball. It started while she was still sporting some bright teal alongside the Maroon and White, and it has only grown since her passing.
"Since Alex's fight and before she passed in 2018, just the support we've seen across the world of college softball has been tremendous," Ricketts said. "Just so many people participating in teal games for us when Alex was still on the team and fighting ovarian cancer, in our wall-sit challenge we do also to spread awareness, and I think it's one of the things that makes the softball community so special, just to see how everybody can all come together."
She continued:
"Even though we're competing on the field, we all have the same goals, and that's to just support young women in the sport of softball."
Alongside Mississippi State, LSU and its head coach, Beth Torina, have used a platform of their own to bring awareness to ovarian cancer. The Geaux Teal Foundation was started by Torina in support of her mother, Betty Dieter, an 11-year survivor of the disease. Since its inception, the foundation has attracted thousands of people to its annual walk in Baton Rouge and other events.
Torina was a major force in bringing the campaign to State after being contacted by former Bulldogs' head coach Vann Stuedeman.
"I think it was Vann Stuedeman that reached out to me and said, 'You know, we have this player that's going through this. I know you have the foundation, so how can we work together to try to support her and do all we can?'" Torina said.
Ricketts and Torina ultimately teamed up as head coaches in 2020 to do even more to honor Wilcox's memory in a way that helped young women across the United States understand the risks associated with the aggressive form of cancer.
The pair received the support of all conference coaches, and they collectively set out to make a difference through one massive initiative: the All For Alex campaign.
"Anytime we can come together for something, you know it's going to be better," Torina said, "So, the fact that everybody comes together for this one cause on April 13 is pretty incredible."
One of the biggest challenges relating to ovarian cancer is the fact that it can easily go unnoticed for months. The symptoms might seem mild or insignificant in the disease's earliest stages, making it much harder to treat as it progresses and becomes noticeable.
According to Ricketts, the primary goal of the All For Alex campaign is to emphasize some of the early symptoms associated with the cancer.
"We're just trying to share the symptoms, to spread awareness, to continue to encourage young women to advocate for themselves and their health and to make sure that we're doing our part to help the next one who might be diagnosed early," Ricketts said.
The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer include bloating, cramping, indigestion, back pain, stomach fullness and low energy.
Through the countless stories, graphics and videos remembering Wilcox and highlighting a devastating disease, the All For Alex campaign will continue to make a lasting impact in collegiate softball and beyond. Mississippi State, the SEC and the Wilcox family have undoubtedly saved lives through their relentless efforts.
"The more that people are writing about her, her story and really the symptoms… all it does is continue to help us fight, and that's ultimately what's most important," Ricketts said. "It's something Alex's dad still talks about, that if sharing the symptoms can help prevent one young woman from passing away early like Alex did, then it's worth it."
Mississippi State's All For Alex day will take place against Tennessee at Nusz Park on Saturday. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. CT, and fans who are unable to attend in person can watch the game on SEC Network.
Wilcox shined in her freshman season with the Bulldogs, all while battling ovarian cancer and thriving academically. The outfielder's coaches and teammates rallied around her, wearing teal uniforms during all midweek matchups in 2018 to bring awareness to the disease as part of the "No One Fights Alone" campaign.
Head coach Samantha Ricketts, who was an assistant with the program at the time, said that Wilcox's desire to play at MSU encouraged her to continue moving forward and explained the radiant light that the rookie was in the clubhouse.
"She just found so much joy in playing softball and being around her teammates that it was hard for you not to smile when you were around her, and she never had a bad day, which was just unreal to think of," Ricketts said.
Wilcox made collegiate starts against Drake and UMass Lowell during the early part of the 2018 season. Her third game in the starting lineup came against Samford in Birmingham, Alabama, and her family was able to make the 150-mile trip from her hometown of Brantley to see the big moment.
Wilcox passed away on June 25, 2018, at the age of 18 after more than two years of fighting her courageous battle.
In her short time on earth, the young student-athlete made a lasting impact across the world of college softball. It started while she was still sporting some bright teal alongside the Maroon and White, and it has only grown since her passing.
"Since Alex's fight and before she passed in 2018, just the support we've seen across the world of college softball has been tremendous," Ricketts said. "Just so many people participating in teal games for us when Alex was still on the team and fighting ovarian cancer, in our wall-sit challenge we do also to spread awareness, and I think it's one of the things that makes the softball community so special, just to see how everybody can all come together."
She continued:
"Even though we're competing on the field, we all have the same goals, and that's to just support young women in the sport of softball."
Alongside Mississippi State, LSU and its head coach, Beth Torina, have used a platform of their own to bring awareness to ovarian cancer. The Geaux Teal Foundation was started by Torina in support of her mother, Betty Dieter, an 11-year survivor of the disease. Since its inception, the foundation has attracted thousands of people to its annual walk in Baton Rouge and other events.
Torina was a major force in bringing the campaign to State after being contacted by former Bulldogs' head coach Vann Stuedeman.
"I think it was Vann Stuedeman that reached out to me and said, 'You know, we have this player that's going through this. I know you have the foundation, so how can we work together to try to support her and do all we can?'" Torina said.
Ricketts and Torina ultimately teamed up as head coaches in 2020 to do even more to honor Wilcox's memory in a way that helped young women across the United States understand the risks associated with the aggressive form of cancer.
The pair received the support of all conference coaches, and they collectively set out to make a difference through one massive initiative: the All For Alex campaign.
"Anytime we can come together for something, you know it's going to be better," Torina said, "So, the fact that everybody comes together for this one cause on April 13 is pretty incredible."
One of the biggest challenges relating to ovarian cancer is the fact that it can easily go unnoticed for months. The symptoms might seem mild or insignificant in the disease's earliest stages, making it much harder to treat as it progresses and becomes noticeable.
According to Ricketts, the primary goal of the All For Alex campaign is to emphasize some of the early symptoms associated with the cancer.
"We're just trying to share the symptoms, to spread awareness, to continue to encourage young women to advocate for themselves and their health and to make sure that we're doing our part to help the next one who might be diagnosed early," Ricketts said.
The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer include bloating, cramping, indigestion, back pain, stomach fullness and low energy.
Through the countless stories, graphics and videos remembering Wilcox and highlighting a devastating disease, the All For Alex campaign will continue to make a lasting impact in collegiate softball and beyond. Mississippi State, the SEC and the Wilcox family have undoubtedly saved lives through their relentless efforts.
"The more that people are writing about her, her story and really the symptoms… all it does is continue to help us fight, and that's ultimately what's most important," Ricketts said. "It's something Alex's dad still talks about, that if sharing the symptoms can help prevent one young woman from passing away early like Alex did, then it's worth it."
Mississippi State's All For Alex day will take place against Tennessee at Nusz Park on Saturday. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. CT, and fans who are unable to attend in person can watch the game on SEC Network.
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