The Reason We Play: A Field Hockey Story

There have always been moments in our lives when we fall short, grappling for safety or reaching for a hand. We search for grounding forces and people to protect us when our world seems far away. I have learned a lot throughout my life, but the pinnacle lesson lies within the magnificence of sports. Sports carry a beauty that cannot be replicated. They have offered an oasis I can run to when my life seems to be in pieces. Sports have always been there to test me, to insist that I can be better than yesterday. I believe they show us how to be human, how to fight, and most importantly how to smile through it all. 

As my college and sports careers have come to a close, I have found myself realizing the impact sports have had on my life and my life at Sewanee. I grew up in a household where sports were second nature. If we weren't playing one, we were watching one, and if we weren’t talking about school work, we were discussing sports. The origins of my sports fandom began as I watched my Dad coach and mentor young men I saw as my role models. When we moved to Sewanee in 2007, sports only found a deeper place in my heart. Hardee McGee Field was a place I’d run to after school in hopes of being able to stand on the sleds and throw the ball with his players. I saw the young women my mom coached at St. Andrew ’s-Sewanee as people and athletes I could become. I was surrounded by potential and saw happiness transcend across these fields and courts. I saw what sports did for my parents and the connections they made through their journeys, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that world and, most importantly, part of that family.

 I was blessed to be in a place where I could stumble out of my backyard and arrive at a field. There was no way to avoid its omnipresence, so I plunged myself into every sport, practice, and team. I soon felt adrenaline, fear, and hope accumulate into one game, match, and point. Sports were where I found confidence and possibility. It was a place I felt I could be anyone and become stronger than I was before. I knew exactly where I needed to be, and I always desired to be a college athlete. I could not imagine my life without sports, so I tried to hold onto it with all my might.

Through knee surgery and setbacks, I struggled to find a spot on a team going into college, so I began my freshman year for the first time without a team in my corner. I felt lost, unable to truly find my “place.” An integral part of my life was gone, and I struggled to know where to turn. I no longer felt I belonged to something greater than myself. I missed the huddles where arms were wrapped around each other, goals were shared, and potential was unleashed. In the spring of my freshman year, I received the opportunity to believe in something again, and it came in the form of a text from Coach Shack. With zero knowledge of field hockey, I decided that this was my opportunity to compete again and find what I had lost. 

Choosing to play Sewanee Field Hockey changed my life. Over the past 3 years, I have fallen in love with this sport and the people that surround it. I treasure my time on this team because of the many laughs, tears, and smiles we have shared. I will always hold onto those moments of pure happiness. I will remember the endless locker room dances, where time stood still, our opponent vanished, and we were left with just each other. Nothing can ever take away the long bus rides where we inevitably spilled every ounce of our feelings and thoughts to each other. It is so special to be a part of something that continuously lifts you up and provides a home, and that is exactly what Sewanee Field Hockey did for me. It has given me a place to run to, to rely on, and most importantly, to love. One of the most beautiful things about sports is its ability to create a barrier between ourselves and the chaos that clouds our world. I was so grateful to have a place where schoolwork faded and drama dissipated. I treated practice as my break from life, a time where I could work hard, learn, and just enjoy being able to play.

Field hockey has taught me what it means to be resilient, and I am so proud of what this team has become. This program has allowed me to fight, fall, and grow amongst incredible women. Every day over the past 3 years, I have been inspired by the talent that exudes from this team and this coaching staff. It is rare to be a part of a program where everything clicks, but for all three years, I was on a team that meant everything to each other. Sewanee Field Hockey introduced me to my best friends and strongest role models. I have always found a hand to pick me up off the turf, a smirk to make me laugh, and a hug to reassure me. We have created a family here on the mountain: a huddle that can never be broken and a home that can never be taken away. Puett Field has become part of my home because of the lessons I have learned and the comfort I have found there. Growing up in Sewanee, I always dreamed of playing on Puett Field in college. I never thought that it would come in the form of field hockey, but I am so grateful it did. I now know that Sewanee field hockey is where I belonged. It is where I fell in love with Sewanee all over again, and it is where I learned how to grow. 

Sports transcend boundaries, allowing us to become beautifully vulnerable, accept challenges, and become stronger for them. They seek comradery and belief in the impossible. Most things we need to know about life can be found in sports. They teach us the in-between, from failure to success. They show us how to be human, connect, come together, and fight for each other. I believe in the beautiful power of sports because I have seen how they have impacted my life. I have seen how they instill hope and drive into the eyes of people who need it and find ways to lift us out of the darkness. Sports are here to show us how to fall gracefully and rise proudly. I have become who I am today because of my experience on this team and my teammates and coaches who inspire me daily. Thank you, Sewanee Field Hockey, for being my rock for the past three years, for allowing me to grow, to smile, and most importantly allowing me to play. YSR forever.