Olivia Crooks’ soccer story is what Westfield State is all about: hard work, patience and growing up in Massachusetts.
Being from Wilbraham MA, Olivia (Livie) Crooks is familiar with what comes with living in Western Massachusetts; the cold winters, hot summers and using I-90 as your reference point for where you’re traveling too. Arriving on campus in 2022, Livie came in as a freshman eager to learn and play the sport she loves, and she left in 2025 as a part of a class that won 3 conference titles, multiple post-season NCAA playoff appearances and countless friendships. I was given the opportunity to speak to Olivia last Sunday over the phone and ask her more about her journey and experience as a Westfield State Soccer player.
How did proximity to home factor in the decision to go to Westfield?
“I definitely wanted to go somewhere close to home because I am close with my family so I decided to go somewhere where I can see my family but my mom’s not down the street.”
What split did soccer and school have when picking Westfield as a school to attend?
“I would say for me athletics is probably a 70/30, with 70 being how much I cared about the athletics and 30 being how much I cared about the academics, but Westfield also had great academic programs so I lucked out.”
Did you always feel like soccer was something you wanted to pursue in college?
“Yea, I always wanted to go somewhere I wanted to play.”
How hard mentally and physically was this past season, knowing it was your last?
“I think mentally this season, like, specifically was tough because of things that went on during the season, coaching wise with the coaching changes, so there was pressure on it in a different way but I think that it was most important to win this year because I knew that it would leave me with a better feeling about soccer than if I have lost my senior year. Physically, I think every season is demanding, this season was no harder than past seasons.”
“To add on, physically it was a little harder this year because I am getting older, I got over injuries quicker in past season.”
You scored the game-winning goal in the championship final. Other than that, what’s your greatest memory playing soccer at Westfield?
“I think senior night was a really memorable night because it was Halloween and it had like a different vibe to it and seeing Tori (Dodge) score was awesome. . . also traveling to Tennessee was really fun too cause it was like the first big trip that I’ve ever been on, like, in college.”
To add onto that, Tell me about living with 3 of your close friends and teammates and how that develops into a personal level?
“I lived on campus my first 2 years but I never lived with any roommates on the team so I didn’t feel as connected to the team vs when I started living with people on the team, and living with them definitely made a closer relationship emotionally and that definitely transfers onto the field because you’re more connected and you develop a sense of trust. There’s probably a balance to it which you have to get right and we did.”
