by Olivia Riley

At Ohio State field hockey’s Big Ten showdown against Penn State on Friday, small rainbow flags could be found on the fence posts surrounding the entirety of Buckeye Varsity Field.

Because it’s not all about winning.

The team's Oct. 11 match was its annual Pride Game, where both squads paired up to show their support of LGBTQIA+ athletes and allies. While the appearance of pride programming—from themed jerseys to rainbow helmet decals—in elite-level athletic events has come under scrutiny, Ohio State has held steadfast in the importance of inclusion.

“I think it just helps bring awareness, it helps bring education, and it helps bring representation across the board,” Ohio State field hockey head coach Jarred Martin said.

In June 2023, Major League Baseball quietly told its teams to refrain from wearing pride jerseys during play. That same month, the National Hockey League banned specialty Pride warmup jerseys on themed game nights. The next October, they banned the use of rainbow-colored stick tape, although the rule was lifted less than two weeks later after backlash from players and allies in the league.

But, Martin said wearing Pride with pride spreads awareness and positive messaging.

“As a team, we try to find ways to promote things we’re passionate about,” Martin said. “With our team, with our platform, you know, it’s just really great.”

The team has a strong relationship with Buckeye Spectrum, an on-campus organization that focuses on welcoming LGBTQIA+ student athletes and allies, as well as promoting visibility of the LGBTQIA+ community in athletics at Ohio State. At the Oct. 11 match—which fell on National Coming Out Day—Martin, his team and staff wore shirts with the organization’s name, and some featured the word “Pride” across the front.

“I think things like this help us for the future,” Martin said. “It helps our young people know that their voices matter.”