This story contains discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
VENTURA COUNTY, California – Sarah Shulze was energetic, ambitious, dedicated.
She served her hometown of Oak Park, California as a member of the National Charity League and was a dedicated member of the Associated Student Body at Oak Park High for four years. She was the senior class secretary in 2019 and helped plan the senior prom.
During her time at the University of Wisconsin, she earned an internship with the Wisconsin state legislature and volunteered as a pollster for the 2020 presidential election.
Shulze was worldly, with her thirst for adventure taking her on trips to Europe, Africa and Alaska.
She was also an excellent athlete. Shultz’s powerhouse senior season in cross country for Oak Park High included a Coastal Canyon League title, a CIF Southern Division Division 3 championship and a runner-up in the CIF State Division III final.
At the end of the season, Shulze was named The Star’s Runner of the Year for 2018. She, in turn, earned a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin.
Now that bright light has been extinguished, at least in life. Her family announced that 21-year-old Shulze died in Wisconsin on April 13. They revealed in a website post that their daughter “took her own life.”
She is survived by her parents, Brigitte and Scott, and sisters Abbey and Ella.
It is the family’s hope that their daughter’s suicide will help wake others up to the fragility of mental health.
Shulze is lovingly remembered.
“The world is a better place for Sarah because she was a part of it,” said athletics director Tim Chevalier. “While her passing was difficult to process, I hope that her stories will continue to be told and that her positive impact on others will be remembered.”
Chevalier said Shulze excelled in sports and in life.
“In the classroom, Sarah was an outstanding student,” he said. “On the track, Sarah was a tough competitor who was absolutely electric and constantly pushed herself to be great.
“From the job, Sarah was a gentle and kind soul, a loving daughter, sister, friend and human being who will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.”
The University of Wisconsin said its community is “heartbroken.”
“Sarah was a beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, girlfriend, teammate and Badger student-athlete,” read the statement. “We express our deepest sympathy and condolences to Sarah’s family, friends and Badger teammates during this extremely difficult time. Our primary focus is on supporting the Shulze family and our student-athletes.”
As a junior for the Badgers, Shulze recently finished first in the 3,000 meters and achieved a personal best in the mile at the Larry Wieczorkek invitational event.
She was named the 2020 and 2021 academic All-Big Ten in cross country, and 2021 academic All-Big Ten on track.
Her high school coach, Steve White, noted in The Star’s story that Shulze relied on more than physical ability to honor her cross-country performance as a senior.
“She has that unique gift of going there and punishing herself,” White said. “To know what it’s going to take to achieve the goals she would set. It’s going to be her mental toughness.”
Her family said in the website post that Shulze was instilled with deep compassion for others.
“Above all else, Sarah was a force for good in the world,” they wrote. “Her deep compassion was evident in her dedication to her sisters Abbey and Ella, the love her parents felt every day of her and the extra care she took in moments shared with her grandparents and cousins.”
Shulze’s death is the second tragedy involving a former standout athlete in Ventura County in the past two months.
Katie Meyer, a former Newbury Park High soccer star and Stanford University star, took her own life on March 1 at her residence on the Palo Alto campus.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, for both English and Spanish speakers, can be reached at 1-800-273-8255 or suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
