Sarah Shulze, a student-athlete and member of the Wisconsin women’s track and field and cross country teams, has died. She was 21.

Shulze was a native of Oak Park, Calif. and joined the track and cross country teams at Wisconsin in 2019. In her senior year of high school, Shulze had been named the 2018-19 Ventura County Athlete of the Year.

In a post on SarahShulze.com, the family said that she “took her own life,” on April 13.

“Balancing athletics, academics and the demands of every day life overwhelmed her in a single, desperate moment,” the statement said. “”She was surrounded by her loving family.”

Wisconsin’s athletic department released a statement on the tragic news.

“The Wisconsin Athletics community is heartbroken by the unexpected passing of Sarah Shulze, a junior with the Badger women’s track and field and cross country teams,” the statement said. “Sarah was a beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, friend, teammate and Badger student-athlete. We extend our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to Sarah’s family, friends and Badger teammates during this extraordinarily difficult time. Our primary focus is the support of the Shulze family and our student-athletes.”

Shulze was an Academic All-B1G cross country athlete in 2020 and 2021 and also received the honor in track and field in 2021.

Our thoughts and condolences are with the Shulze family.