Keeley Cleland stands as much as shut down psychological well being stigma with Morgan’s Message

The finish of the 2025 season stung.

Sun Devil Lacrosse stormed all the best way to the Big 12 Championship title sport, solely to observe the trophy raised by the palms of the University of Florida. 

This type of heartbreak calls for greater than stick abilities, it requires psychological muscle.

If there’s a crew on the Arizona State University campus constructed to deal with each the bodily stress and psychological train, it’s Sun Devil Lacrosse. 

The program places an unbelievable emphasis on psychological well being and wellness, strengthened by its teaching employees and amplified by senior defender Keeley Cleland’s work with Morgan’s Message. Together, they’ve created a tradition ready not solely to chase championships however to assist each other by way of thick and skinny. 

Sun Devil Lacrosse crew huddles earlier than their Morgan’s Message and Mental Health Awareness sport vs. USC on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at Sun Devil Lacrosse Stadium.

Morgan’s Message
Morgan’s Message is a psychological well being group based in honor of Morgan Rogers, a Duke University lacrosse participant who took her personal life after battling an damage. Her story sparked a nationwide motion to remove stigma surrounding student-athlete psychological well being. 

Now energetic on highschool and school campuses nationwide, the group has a robust presence at Arizona State. Cleland serves as chapter chair alongside teammate Caroline Lyttle.

Introduced to this system throughout her sophomore 12 months by former teammate Lexi Guerin. Cleland wanted little convincing to get entangled.

“Mental health is a super important topic to me,” Cleland stated, who’s graduating in May with a level in interdisciplinary research with a spotlight in dietary science and communications, and a minor in psychology.

“Being an athlete, there are so many stressors going on and being part of an outlet and an important space for athletes with like-minded individuals is something I was excited to step into.”

In her position as chapter chair, Cleland leads month-to-month conferences, that are open to all ASU  college students, however primarily serve student-athletes. Around 20 sometimes attend, lots of them lacrosse gamers, swimmers and triathletes.

The conversations are significant. They speak about getting back from accidents, examination nervousness, navigating expectations, and likewise about stress administration. 

“Positive self-talk is a great way to deal with stress,” she defined. “We talk about finding ways to talk to yourself positively and not focus on the negative. That alone can impact so much.”