As a student-athlete at The University of Toledo, Anna Dixon was able to explore a wide variety of interests beyond her sport. One thing she has discovered about herself was that she has a passion for mental health advocacy. Part of that learning process included dealing with her own challenges as a college student and student-athlete.
Dixon, a fifth-year outfielder on the Toledo softball team, is a recreational therapy major and a psychology minor in the College of Health and Human Services who is set to graduate in May. Her career as a Rocket has seen highs and lows, both on and off the field, and she is open about discussing some of the low points.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS: UToledo recognizes the Class of 2023 with a series of stories featuring students receiving their degrees at spring commencement.
“I’ve had a few mental health struggles myself and I figured as a student-athlete I wasn’t the only one,” Dixon said. “I wanted to find a way to connect with other people who have gone through the same challenges.”
Dixon was introduced to the non-profit organization The Hidden Opponent through social media and after reading the novel “Geese Are Never Swans,” which was co-authored by Kobe Bryant. The Hidden Opponent focuses on breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in athletics and she eventually became a campus leader in the organization.
“I am a head campus captain here which means I am one of three people leading a group of people on their journeys to start mental health advocacy on their campuses,” Dixon said. “We have high school, Division I, Division II and Division III, NAIA chapters and many other levels.”
Dixon plans to extend her mission of helping others after she graduates. She will attend the University of Michigan to pursue a master’s in social work. She would like to begin a career working with children, possibly aiding youngsters with disabilities, though she has not ruled out coaching.
Anna Dixon, middle right, poses with her father, Mark, brother, Ian, and mother, Kelly.
“I’d really like to work with kids in a recreational type of setting, whether it’s coaching in a community or a school,” Dixon said.
As she is setting a course for a life of helping others, Dixon said she is grateful for the support she has received throughout her life.
Dixon’s parents supported her love of softball and her goal to play in college. She began playing softball at age 6, skipping T-ball and going straight into softball.
“She got her first bat for her second birthday present, and she could hit a pitched ball by age 3,” said her mom, Kelly Dixon.
Her dad, Mark Dixon, coached her from ages 6 to 13.
“She was always willing to take instructions and wanted to do well,” Mark said. “Every coach she has ever played for has enjoyed having her as a player. They have all told us that, which makes us very proud of the person and player she is.”
Dixon was not the only ballplayer in her family. She and her brother, Ian, who plays baseball at Davenport University, took gloves and balls everywhere they went, even on family vacations.
Dixon developed her skills through travel ball and middle school softball, but her abilities on the field shone brightest during her high school years. She was a star player at Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and was inducted into the Detroit Catholic League Hall of Fame in June 2022. Dixon began her college career at Hillsdale College before transferring to UToledo prior to her sophomore year in 2020.
“Toledo has been a better fit for me,” Dixon said. “Everyone was so welcoming and that hasn’t stopped.”
Dixon is having an outstanding senior season, leading the team in hitting this year (.356) and runs scored (22). She also has thrived in the classroom, earning Academic All-MAC honors in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
She has been a standout at Toledo, playing 139 games in her career and hitting a stellar .336. Dixon is having an outstanding senior season, leading the team in hitting this year (.356) and runs scored (22). She also has thrived in the classroom, earning Academic All-MAC honors in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Head coach Jessica Bracamonte, who is in her first year at the helm, has been impressed with Dixon’s leadership.
“Over the last eight months I’ve come to know her, I’ve seen Anna grow in her confidence and her skills on the field,” Bracamonte said.
Dixon’s efforts to promote mental health advocacy have not gone unnoticed, either.
“She is always helping others, and letting people know they can go to her with any issues they may be facing,” said teammate Erin Hunt. “The work she does with The Hidden Opponent on campus is amazing.”
“The world needs more Anna Dixons,” Bracamonte added. “She’s just an amazing person inside and out.”
