It's not every day that you get the opportunity to travel halfway across the world to pursue your dreams.

For most, it's a far-fetched idea that almost seems impossible. You're leaving behind your family, friends, and everything you've ever known to venture into the great unknown.

For Isaki Sakashita, a sophomore on Stetson's women's golf team, it was a journey she was more than willing to embark on.

"I love living here," Sakashita said. "It's always been my dream."

The dream of living in America began with a summer trip as a freshman in high school, when she traveled from her hometown in Nara, Japan—more than 7,600 miles from DeLand—to participate in the JPGA Junior Players Golf Academy, a summer golf camp on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

"I came here for a summer golf camp where I met my coach who really improved my golf swing and my golf game," she said. "I won a tournament here. That's when I was like, 'I want to play golf professionally. I want to play college golf, and I want to continue playing golf.'"

Golf had always been part of Sakashita's life growing up in Japan. Her older sister Ichiyo played, and her grandparents were also avid golfers. Her grandfather, in particular, helped introduce her to the sport.

"I just went to play golf with my grandpa a lot," she recalled. "I wasn't good, but he taught me how to play. He found a coach for me when I was really little, and that really helped."

It wasn't love at first swing. She admits she found the game boring as a kid—too slow, too time-consuming—until middle school, when her improvement sparked her passion.

"I really love playing now," she said.

As her confidence grew, so did her success. Sakashita would soon reach another milestone when she earned a spot in the 75th USGA Girls' Junior Championship in Tarzana, California. She navigated a field of 156 golfers from 12 countries, posting a 69 in her opening round and a 75 in the second to comfortably make the cut for match play. "It was my first time competing at that level, and it really made me realize I could play with the best," she said.

That success, paired with her determination to play college golf in America, led Sakashita to Stetson—a place she immediately connected with for its small class sizes, supportive community, and competitive golf program.

"I really like the golf program here," Sakashita said. "The practice facility is huge, and I can practice anytime. That was a really big moment I decided to come here. I love my coach, Teresa Brown. She's amazing. She helped me a lot in the process of finding a college. I really like how small the school is and how small the class sizes are because I thought I would struggle a lot with English. I thought I could get more help with a smaller school and smaller class."

Sakashita, a communication and media studies major, credits her coursework and teammates for helping her improve her English.

"Just by having conversations with my teammates, that really helped me improve," she said. "My public speaking class really helped me a lot too."

Her connection with teammates started even before she arrived on campus. Grace Smith, a senior who also attended the South Carolina golf academy, offered guidance through phone calls and support, helping Sakashita transition smoothly.

"Grace really helped me figure out everything," Sakashita said. "I think she helped me a lot."

Sakashita's first season as a Hatter was historic. She made an immediate impact and rewrote parts of the record book.

She was named the 2025 ASUN Freshman of the Year, becoming only the third player in program history to earn the honor and the first since 2010. She also became the first major ASUN award winner under head coach Theresa Brown, earned First Team All-ASUN recognition, and was selected to the WGCA All-American Scholar Team.

Her freshman year featured six top-10 finishes, including five top-5s, three top-3s, and two runner-up performances. She tied the program record with a final-round 66 at the Sea Best Intercollegiate and finished the season with a 72.4 scoring average—one of the best single-season marks in school history.

Despite her accomplishments, Sakashita remains humble and focused on improvement.

"I had a couple good tournaments, good scores, but it wasn't really what I wanted because I wasn't consistently having good scores. I was really surprised when coach sent me a text saying I was freshman of the year," she said."

Sakashita credits the team's success to a competitive and supportive environment. "Last year it was only eight players, and this year there's 10 players," she said. "That's more competitive. We have to compete against each other, so that really helps us practice more, focus more. As a team, I think we did a really good job."

She has embraced a leadership role as a sophomore. "I'm not the type of person that will say things out loud," she said. "I try to lead by example. I put in a lot of effort, practice a lot. I hope I motivate them to do the same or more."

Sakashita admires the leadership qualities of her teammates as well, particularly Filippa Jansson. "She is really good at communicating with everybody, building trust. She always checks up on everybody. She also motivates us with golf, but also schoolwork because she does really well academically. I think I want her communication skill—how she builds trust with everybody."

She thrives under pressure and enjoys having teammates depend on her.

"I like that feeling of being under pressure," she said. "I like that people can count on me. I want to help my teammates and be a leader through what I do on the course."

The ASUN Championship playoff against FGCU was a particularly formative experience for Sakashita. As a freshman, she and the Hatters came incredibly close to winning, only to fall short in a playoff. The disappointment could have lingered, but Coach Teresa Brown immediately refocused the team.

"We had this meeting before practice," Sakashita recalled. "She showed me the picture and we were, 'Oh no, don't, we don't wanna talk about it.'

Coach said, 'This is the last time we're talking about this. We're not looking at the past. This picture is for us to get motivated.' She said she's gonna put the picture on the door where we all can see it. 'This is not about feeling sad or feeling angry, this is about moving forward and aiming for higher. Winning the conference next year.'

"That actually motivates me every time I see the picture. I gotta work harder and we gotta beat FGCU next year."

The moment left a lasting impression on Sakashita, reinforcing the importance of resilience and perspective. Rather than dwelling on what could have been, the team was encouraged to channel their energy into growth and preparation for the future—a philosophy Sakashita has carried into her sophomore season.

"I think that feeling of losing helped us grow," she said. "I appreciate having the opportunity to experience this when I was a freshman. I still have three more years."

With two victories already under their belt in the fall season, the Hatters are aiming for more success in the upcoming spring season. "We are capable of winning tournaments," Sakashita said. "I think we can win this year. I'm really looking forward to conference."

However, Sakashita balances her competitive drive with life off the course, finding camaraderie with her teammates over meals and enjoying the simple things that make DeLand feel like home.

"I really like going out to eat with our team," she said with a smile. "We go for sushi a lot, or sometimes Mexican food. There's no Mexican food in Japan, so when I came here, I thought, 'This is amazing — I could eat this all day.'"

She's also joined Coach Brown and some of her teammates for surfing trips near the beach — another unexpected perk of life at Stetson.

"My dad loves surfing, so I already knew how," Sakashita said. "Coach is a really good surfer too. We've surfed together before — it's really fun. It's something I never thought I'd get to do with a coach."

Although she's thousands of miles away from home, Sakashita has found a new home at Stetson. Her journey from Japan to the United States has been one of growth, success, and new experiences. As she continues her college career, Sakashita is determined to keep improving, both on and off the golf course.

"Being an international student, it's hard for me sometimes," Sakashita said. "But I know I have a great support system, and they've been there for me every step of the way."

About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters