Caroline Hughes

Playing Field Hockey at Northwestern University Fall of 2016
​Houston Christian High School (2012 - 2016) Captain, Varsity all 4 years
ROB (>2012)

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From Caroline:
​1. Favorite field hockey memory? Why?
When I got the news that I was selected for Junior National Camp. I wasn’t expecting to be selected at all and when I found out I was overwhelmed. I also remember when I heard about the bet between Tina and Kelsey about whether or not I would make it. Kelsey won the bet. 

2. What was your most exciting recruiting experience?
When I visited Northwestern University. On my first visit I felt right at home after seeing the campus and meeting some of the team.  Then the coach told me I was her top recruit for a goalie and I was really excited. I knew after that visit that I would be going to college at Northwestern. 

3. Why are you playing field hockey in college?
I want to continue improving my skills and play at higher levels and I think playing in college will help do that.

4. What have you done this summer to prepare?
I have lifted, worked on foot speed and foot skills, and taken tons of shots

5. If you could give one piece of advice to younger girls who want to play field hockey in college, what would it be?
Play and train as hard as you can without expecting any rewards or anything in return. If you play with the intention of impressing someone else or to trying make a certain team, you will eventually set a bar just high enough to reach that goal but no higher. If you play for yourself and simply because you want to get better, there will be no limits on how far you will be able to go.

6. Who was the most influential person in high school?
Stivo and Tina. From the beginning Tina worked with me to improve my skills. Even though I only really started playing hockey as a sophomore in high school, Tina still believed that I could play in college. Stivo was the same way. When I first started training with Stivo, she told me that I had the potential to play D1 in college some day. She would practice with me for as long as it took in order for me to understand a skill. They have made me into the player I am today and I am very grateful for them. 

7. Favorite post practice/ game snack?
​Frosted flakes and gatorade or toast and almond butter.

8. What pre game rituals do you use to hype yourself up before a game?
I like to play music really loud before I get out to the field and then right before the game, I like to do one v. one’s to get my adrenalin pumping. 

9. What made you want to be a college field hockey player?
Once I became a decent player, I wanted to compete at higher and higher levels and I decided that college would be a great opportunity that would offer me the chance to play at that competitive level that I desired. 

10. What was one of the toughest experiences?
When I wasn’t selected to NFC’s my junior year. My sophomore year I was selected to NFC’s then I was selected to JNC’s which came as a shock to me. Although making JNC’s the year before was a surprise, I kind of expected to make NFC’s the year after. When I wasn’t selected to NFC’s that next year, I went into a slump because I thought that I wasn’t a good enough. Instead, that summer I worked really hard to become an even better player. 

11. Year you began playing field hockey? How?
I started playing field hockey in seventh grade but I didn’t start playing competitively until I joined Pride as a sophomore in high school. In seventh grade I played field hockey for my school because I didn’t want to play volleyball.  The team needed a goalkeeper and because I thought that the pads looked pretty cool, I decided I would be the goalie. I played softball since I was in kindergarten, and I played select softball for the majority of my middle school years and into high school.  When I was a sophomore, my softball team split up and I didn’t really know what to do and that’s when I found Pride. I decided to go to one practice just to see how I liked it and in that one practice I fell in love with the sport and knew that field hockey was what I wanted to do in college. In the end, field hockey was the perfect fit for me and I was much happier. 
From Tina:
Favorite Caroline moment (old)/ why?
  • Watching Caroline play at NFC’s in 2014 & then making the video of it - she was stopping every shot that came to her and it was incredible!
Favorite Caroline moment (new)/ why?
  • Watching her play at RFT’s this year. It was awesome to see how far she has come in the past year.  
Story we will forever tell about Caroline:
  • Caroline was “found” by some parent’s from St John’s during their Houston Christian game in the Fall of 2013.  Her mom emailed me in October inquiring about training and the possibility of playing in college.  She joined immediately and 8 months later, made NFC’s and Junior National Camp (the tryout for the Junior National Teams). She worked her butt off that year and accomplished great things in such a short time. #hardworkpaysoff
Favorite Caroline recruiting moment/ why?
  • Caroline had just returned from her visit to Northwestern and we were meeting at Corner Bakery to talk about her trip. She came in beaming with joy. When we sat down to talk about her next visit to a different school, I asked her if she would even consider going to this school over Northwestern.  She thought about it, and was trying to come up with reasons why she would..but ultimately there was no reason. Once she said, there was no reason she wouldn’t go to Northwestern - she just started smiling so big from ear to ear.  It was the moment she realized she had already made her decision, and it was priceless.  
First memory of Caroline/ why?
  • Our first meeting for recruiting was within days of Caroline showing up for her first practice.  She was all in.  We went through the process and she was excited/nervous all at the same time. Her parents kind of thought this was unrealistic, and it may have been, but it was apparent Caroline was committed and willing to work hard to do whatever it would take to be successful.