The transition between elementary school to middle school can be difficult for many children. That transition from middle to high school can often be magnified with it also being the beginning steps of young people entering adulthood. These difficulties all come to a head when seniors in high school enter college institutions and at times can be especially difficult for those who are student-athletes. Many of these talented athletes have to compete against players 3 to 4 years older than themselves, with experience juggling school, social and sport. Many were the big fish in their pond and are now working just to find their place. While there are no redshirt years at the Division III level, it is not uncommon for some teams to have an average age well above 21. Worcester State has brought in hundreds of first years to their athletics programs over the decades and while all these athletes varied in playing time, each and everyone learned important lessons from their times on the bench and the field. Many even found their way to on field success, earning a range of honors.
This article will highlight two current first year student-athletes' testimonies on what it was like being recruited, entering college and an in-depth look at what their teams were like from their perspective.
General Questions:
When did you decide that you wanted to play in college?
Toby: I decided that I wanted to play in college at the beginning of my junior year of high school. This decision definitely kicked up my motivation and direct focus towards soccer and school.
Francesca: I decided that I wanted to play in college my senior year of high school. I had been thinking about it my junior year as well but my senior year I realized I wouldn’t be able to not play a sport in college. Sports have always had a big impact on my life and I knew I’d kick myself if I didn’t try to play.
How many of your high school teammates also played in college?
Toby: The majority of the captains I played under or alongside throughout my high school playing career went on to play in college.
Francesca: Only one other senior in my class played field hockey in college (out of 8). Some others are playing club but I don’t believe anyone else is playing at the D3 level.
When do you think most Freshmen settle into the college lifestyle?
Francesca: If I had to guess on average it would probably take around 2-3 months to fully settle in and find your way in college. You’re generally settled in about 2 weeks I’d say when you start getting the flow of things.
What was your favorite moment during the preseason training period?
Toby: My favorite moment during the preseason period was drafting my own team against senior captain and other goalkeeper, Andy for our inter-squad scrimmage and going on to win 2-0 with that team.
Francesca: I don’t think I had a specific favorite part of preseason but I generally was just happy to get back into field hockey and meet the team. I came on the team as a tryout player so I guess the best moment for me was when the coach told the tryout players that we had made the team.
What was your favorite moment of the regular season?
Francesca: My favorite moment of the regular season personally was probably the moment I got to touch the field for the first time. I didn’t really play much my freshman season but those 2 minutes I did first get to play meant a lot to me. Another one of my favorite moments was when one of my senior teammates, Emma, scored a stroke in our game. Emma never got the most playing time but she was a very important aspect to our team so that was a great moment for all of us to witness.
Which seniors or upperclassmen do you think helped you out the most?
Toby: The seniors or upperclassmen that helped me the most were Andy and Dubba. The two of them helped out and played very different roles for me on and off the field. Getting to observe, spend time and work with those two was a joy, they are both great guys and I am grateful to have had them as captains.
Francesca: One of my captains, Maddy Avilla, helped me a lot. Maddy has been there for me since pick up in the summer and has always been supportive and encouraging. She helped me the most with my transition into college and becoming a student athlete. Allison Keenan and Maggie Nailor also had a big impact on my gameplay as well as my academics. They have always been there for me and have helped guide me in the right direction both in school and on the field.
What was the hardest part of adjusting to being a student-athlete?
Francesca: The hardest part about adjusting to being a student athlete would probably be just getting into all the conditioning as well as balancing school work, and academics, as well as sleep.
For Francesca:
What was it like having a first-year head coach?
Having a first year head coach was honestly the best. We could not have had a better coach to grow as a team with. Having a new coach at first made me nervous because I hadn’t met her yet and didn’t know if she’d like me. Coach Soph has been the best coach I’ve ever had and she’s honestly the sweetest person ever and did a great job coaching her first year.
Your team had 9 first years. Were there any challenges with that?
I feel like it was definitely an experience having so many first years on the team especially since everyone seemed to fall into their own cliques early on. It was nice though having so many others in the same boat as you and going through the changes of becoming a student athlete at the D3 level.
What was the NCAA tournament like?
The NCAA tournament was a very fun experience. Having our own NCAA badges and the big locker room was so cool. They had banners and the grass spray painted with the logo and it was just fun to be there for it all. Having all our names announced at the game was also awesome, since obviously, I never started so it was cool to hear my name announced at a game like that.
What are you looking to improve upon this offseason?
There are a lot of things I want to improve on during the offseason including: my confidence, my accuracy when shooting, strength of my passes, conditioning, and agility.
For Toby:
Have you faced any challenges being so far away from your home state coming to WSU?
The challenges I faced when originally coming so far from what I was used to for school were ones that I expected and hoped for. It was undeniably uncomfortable for the first few months being separated from the ones important to me. It was also uncomfortable being in a new city that I had no idea about. I hoped that the discomfort of being so far from my home in the Midwest would bring lots of opportunity to learn and grow and over time it has proved to do that.
Favorite thing about the Worcester Area?
My favorite thing about the Worcester area is not by any means the city, but what surrounds it. I enjoy the outdoors so being so close to Mount Washington, ski trails and hills, the coast of Maine and the Vermont area is really sweet especially when I get the chance to go on adventures. It is very central to a lot of other cool places such as Boston, New York City and Providence as well.
What did you learn from being the backup Keeper and how was the Goalkeeping room you experienced this year?
Being a backup keeper is something I’ve experienced before in my playing career. This time around, it was a lot easier and more enjoyable because of my age gap with Andy. I was able to spend more time learning and taking in the aspects of Andy’s play, leadership and habits versus being in constant struggle to compete with him. While I most definitely wanted to play and get minutes, being able to watch a player like Andy and train so much with him was huge for my understanding of what it takes to be a top goalkeeper and what that actually looks like on a more day to day basis.
What are your goals for spring with a new coaching staff coming in?
My goals for the spring are to solidify myself as the number one for next fall in the new staff of coaches’ heads. I want to push myself into a larger role of leadership and hopefully enjoy some good time training with a slightly new group.
In Conclusion:
The first year as a collegiate student-athlete, or just a student in college, can be one of the hardest, but most rewarding experiences and it is great to see so many new faces and experiences year after year at Worcester State.
~ Mal Hawkins ~