SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- On Thursday, February 5,
CalHOPE announced that
Josie Wolitzky of Cal Poly Humboldt Women's Soccer was selected as a CalHOPE Courage Award recipient for January 2026.
Josie Wolitzky is being recognized for her perseverance, leadership, and mental resilience through a career defined by repeated setbacks, and an extraordinary comeback.
A redshirt junior defender from Parker, Colorado, Josie arrived at Cal Poly Humboldt in the fall of 2021 and immediately made her presence felt, appearing in all 18 matches as a freshman. What followed, however, tested her in ways few student-athletes experience. In the spring of 2022, she was sidelined by head trauma and extreme headaches, forcing her away from the game. That fall, she broke her foot and missed the entire season, taking her first medical redshirt. Just as she fought her way back in spring 2023, Josie tore her ACL in the final match, costing her the entire 2023–24 year and requiring a second medical redshirt.
The physical pain was only part of the challenge. The repeated injuries created doubt, frustration, and real questions about whether continuing her soccer career was worth the emotional toll. In the fall 2024, she returned, only to re-tear her meniscus. After attempting to play through it, Josie focused on healing, regaining her strength, and becoming fully healthy to play again in the spring.
That decision changed everything. Returning fully healthy in spring 2025, Josie earned Cal Poly Humboldt's Comeback Player of the Year award. She gave soccer one final shot in fall 2025 and it became the defining chapter of her career. Named a team captain and a regular starter at center back, she anchored the best defense in program history, leading the Lumberjacks to 13 shutouts, including a program-record six straight. She started 18 of 19 matches, played an average of 79 minutes per game, scored her first career goal against No. 3 Cal Poly Pomona on the road, and was named All-CCAA Honorable Mention.
As a fifth seed, Humboldt stunned the conference to win its first-ever CCAA Tournament, allowing zero goals while defeating the No. 4, No. 1, and No. 2 seeds. It was also the first time ever that a fifth seed has won the CCAA Tournament. Josie was named CCAA Tournament Defensive MVP as the team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 29 years.
"The injuries were never just physical. Every time I got hurt, I questioned myself, my confidence, my future, and whether it was worth continuing," explained Josie. "Being away from the game for so long took a real emotional toll, and there were moments when I wasn't sure I could come back again. What kept me going was learning to take things one day at a time, leaning on my teammates and coaches, and trusting myself even when I didn't feel strong. This journey taught me that mental health is just as important as physical recovery, and that resilience is built through the moments when you feel closest to giving up."
Presented monthly since February 2022, the CalHOPE Courage Award honors student-athletes at California colleges and universities who have overcome stress, anxiety, and mental trauma associated with personal hardships and adversity. In addition to the recognition, a donation will be made on behalf of all honorees to support mental health services.
