SUNBURY – Kathe Theisen doesn’t usually have a problem bringing energy to everything she does.
She’s passionate and full of enthusiasm, something that’s served her well during her tenure as coach of the Big Walnut girls soccer team.
It was at a lunch last winter that Theisen broke the news to her 10 seniors that she was going to need their help a little more in the coming months.
She wasn’t sure she would have as much energy because she was battling cancer.
While Theisen knew it was going to be a difficult and taxing road, there was no way she was going to give up coaching.
“She was super black and white about it,” senior defender Pyper Blackman said of that initial conversation. “She (just told us) this was happening and she asked us to take on some bigger leadership roles than in prior years.
“She (wanted us) to help her out because she was going to put in as much effort and time she could. But, obviously, with something so difficult, you have to take a step back.”
Thiesen was diagnosed with breast cancer in February, stage IIB, and had surgery in April.
She finished her rounds of chemotherapy earlier this season and has about eight months left on an immunotherapy treatment.
“I’m going to do what I have to,” Theisen said. “I want to maintain everything as normal as I can and the girls helped me do that this year.”
Theisen credited assistant coaches Sarah White, Grace Weidenhamer and Elise Starrett with helping her maintain that sense of normalcy. She also said the school has been supportive throughout her treatment.
“My AD (Brian Shelton) asked me from day one, ‘What can we do to support you?’ Everybody’s been great,” she said.
“I feel fine. My energy level is back up. Everything seems more normal now without the chemotherapy.”
The Golden Eagles have thrived this year, going undefeated through nine games at 6-0-3 and ranking fifth in the MaxPreps Division II rankings, last updated Sept. 21.
They are 3-0-1 in OCC-Capital Division play after a 5-0 win over Westerville North on Sept. 22.
Photos by Taylor Henninger. Story continues below.
Big Walnut trails Delaware Hayes, which 4-0-1. The two teams tied 1-1 to open league play on Aug. 25.
“It’s been incredible to see (coach Theisen) push through something so incredibly hard,” Blackman said. “(She’s) almost putting us first over herself.”
Big Walnut hasn’t lost at home since Aug. 23, 2025, a span of 12 matches (8-0-4)
The Eagles travel to rival Olentangy in a non-league match on Sept. 24.
“(Coach Theisen has) stayed positive overall,” said senior forward Anna McGough, who leads Big Walnut with eight goals. “I haven’t noticed a big difference if I’m being honest.
“We’re (helping her) plan and getting our cones and everything picked up – balls in ball bags,” she said. “If someone has a question, we would try to answer it. (We’re) just trying to take as much off of her as we could.”
Senior forward Karsyn Klaus has five goals and senior midfielder/defender Kylie Cochran leads with three assists.
Blackman and senior goalie Grace Huffman lead a defense that’s had five shutouts and allowed just four goals this season.
“(Becoming a leader) is a little bit of a change for me,” Blackman said. “I feel like having some of my best friends, who are the other seniors, go through such a change … made it so much easier for us to rely on each other.”
Defender Katelyn Boudinot, midfielder Becca Chalfant, midfielder Ava Gates, defender Lauren Leffler and forward Addie Mix round out the senior class.
“This group of 10 seniors stepped up and helped me throughout the summer so I could be there for them,” Theisen said. “They’re really put in a lot of work to (get) themselves where they are. They play for each other, not themselves.”
