By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa sophomore shortstop Soo-Jin Berry always looks forward to being on the softball field and playing the game she loves.

That was certainly the case again on Wednesday, and it might have felt even better than usual for Soo-Jin Berry, considering what she and her teammates have been through recently.

Iowa swept St. Thomas in a doubleheader in the home opener on Wednesday by scores of 3-1 and 1-0 at Pearl Field.

The sweep comes during an emotional and trying time for the Iowa players as they move on without former interim head coach Brian Levin, who is no longer with the program following a dispute over some Iowa players, including Soo-Jin Berry, who have chosen to kneel during the National Anthem before games this season.

Levin, a U.S. Army veteran and a former green beret, said in an audio recording that was published last Friday by the Daily Iowan that there has been a cultural problem within the Iowa softball since he arrived. Levin also said that some of the Iowa players are comfortable speaking up and some players are silenced for having different views or opinions.

“I think the culture here is great,” Soo-Jin Berry said after Wednesday’s sweep, which improved Iowa’s record to 16-8. “I don’t have any comment about the person who made those types of comments.

“But our culture is great. We all love each other with our whole hearts and we love softball.”

Berry, who is from Pittsburg, California, was among four Iowa players players that kneeled during the National Anthem before Wednesday’s first game. The other three were Jaylee Ojo, Sofia Elliott and Mya Clark.

Berry and Iowa left fielder and fellow California native Tatianna Roman, who stood during the National Anthem, both then met with the media after Wednesday’s sweep, along with the new acting head coach Karl Gollan.

“It’s just super exciting, because at the end of the day, we all know we have ourselves,” Roman said of sweeping a doubleheader despite all the distractions. “We’re staying positive and we’re having each other’s back.

“So, that’s all that matters right now. Despite whatever happened, we’re really positive and high vibes. It’s been great so far.”

Gollan was named an assistant coach this past August after having spent the 2024 season as the pitching coach for Ole Miss.

Since Gollan joined the Iowa staff less than a year ago, Iowa head coach Renee Gillispie has stepped away from coaching for the 2025 season because of a health concern, and now Gillispie’s replacement also has moved on.

“The girls have taken it like champs,” Gollan said. “Change is inevitable at times and we haven’t got caught up in the people or the things that aren’t here.

“We’ve got some very competitive teams waiting for us ahead. So our focus is looking forward to Indiana and UCLA.”

Gollan also was asked about the comments and accusations that Levin made about the Iowa softball culture.

“I can’t control what other people say,” Gollan said. “Our girls are tight as you can see. They get along great. They all root for each other.”

Gollan, who is from New Zealand, has kept the focus exclusively on softball, saying he doesn’t talk with the players about kneeling during the National Anthem.

“No. Not all,” he said. “We have conversations about softball. So, my job and my knowledge base is understanding how to try to help the girls win ball games. We give the freedom for everybody to be themselves in here and we focus on softball. Those are the things that connect us and make us common, so we focus on those things.”

Berry and Roman both mentioned the importance of having each other’s back when explaining how they have handled all the distractions.

A majority of the Iowa players stood for the National Anthem on Wednesday, but Berry described the team as still being united and supportive of each other.

“It’s been tough, but knowing again that my teammates have my back, it’s nice, and it makes it a lot easier to play the game and just focus on simply the game,” Berry said. “I think we always just push that narrative because at the end of the day, we are the people playing.

“So just having each other’s back and just knowing we can trust them if something happens, even during the game, just knowing that they’re always going to be there for you.”

Berry took a knee near the second base bag during the National Anthem on Wednesday, while Iowa second baseman Jena Young stood next to her.

“I do kneel for personal reasons,” Berry said. “But my teammates have always stressed they want to support me no matter what.

“They don’t necessarily have a problem with it and they’re just always going to be supportive no matter what.”

Shortly after Wednesday’s doubleheader had ended, two former Iowa softball players huddled with the current players near the Iowa dugout and praised them for being an inspiration and for sticking together.

“It was so awesome,” Roman said. “It’s always great to see that alumni support and just to know that they have our backs, and spreading the message that people around the world have our backs is super exciting.”