Kennedy Sholeen

Playing Field Hockey at Columbia University Fall of 2020
St. John's School (K - 4th)
St. John's School (5th - 8th)
St John's School (2016 - 2020) Varsity all four years

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From Kennedy:
Favorite Field Hockey Memory? Why?

There are really so many great memories. Though one of my favorite memories is actually kind of funny. It was my first time ever trying out for a team at Pride. Tina had said there was going to be an A team and a B team. I was probably the youngest person trying out and was ready for my eventual B team placement. I wasn’t bothered. I knew it was my first year of u16, and the older girls were so intimidating. We went through tryouts, and Tina said she’d email our teams by the end of the week. It was Friday, and I was at a football game with the majority of people that tried out also being there. I heard my friends talking about what teams they made, and I asked Amelia if she knew what team I made. She looked so sad for me when she told me I was C team. I was in awe. I was so bad that I couldn’t even make B team. I went home that night slowly accepting my apparent lack of skill at field hockey. Finally the next day, someone told me what C team actually was. It was a small group of girls who were still trying out for A team. I ended up making A team, and the older girls became not scary but friendly. We went on to win our Festival pool that year, and it was amazing. I was so relieved to know that I was, in fact, not the worse player ever on a team I didn’t even think existed, but ok enough to help win that year.

What was your most exciting recruiting experience?

I think one of my most exciting recruiting experiences was when I actually committed. I had two trips back to back for two schools, which made me miss a whole week of school. I Had good news from my first trip and then got to Columbia and was terrified of what would happen because they were my top choice. I spent the day doing the usual things; talking to the coaches, going to class, and eating with the team. At the end of the day I was to meet with the coaches again. I was super nervous, but at the end of the meeting they offered to me, telling me to take however long I needed to decide, so of course I accepted right then. I was so happy at the moment, I didn’t even care I was going to miss Homecoming anymore that night.

Why are you playing field hockey in college?

I am playing field hockey in college because it is one of the things in my life that brings me joy. If playing in high school was going to be my last, I would be so sad. Field hockey has become such a major part of my life. It’s the first thing people associate me with. Being able to play in college is such a great opportunity to continue to play the sport I love. This quarantine we are in now has only emphasized how much I love to play because it is so hard to not have spring season.

What have you been doing to prepare?

This summer I think will be different than most because of the pandemic and quarantine. Before all that, I had my summer all planned out with all my Pride, USA field hockey/Futures, and college commitments taking up a lot (which I actually liked because it kept me playing all summer). Now my summer schedule has changed a lot. I hope to play a bunch of field hockey with my other college bound friends. Also, to really be ready for college I’ll go to the Pride preseason camp and my high school’s preseason to get in extra practice.

If you could give one piece of advice to younger girls who want to play field hockey in college, what would it be?

I’d tell them to go with their guts. In my experience the first feelings you get about a college are true, so don’t try and make yourself love a college just because it seems like you’re suppose to.

Who was the most influential person in high school?

The most influential person to me in high school was actually two people, my parents. My dad went to all my tournaments and every recruiting trip. He physically took me places, but also became my second brain. I’d talk over all my feelings about colleges with him and he’d offer his thoughts. Without him I would have probably been lost in my jumble of thoughts. My mom helped me in a different way. She couldn’t be as involved throughout the recruiting process but in the end she was there bringing the tough love I needed to make final decisions.

Favorite post practice/ game snack?

My favorite post practice snack is Pinkberry. After almost every practice I end up going to it with some teammates.

What pre game rituals do you use to hype yourself up before a game?

I feel like there is a variety of rituals I have. The biggest one being the chant we say before every game. Also, I always braid the girls’ hair and mine before games to make sure we look put together and intimidating. At one Festival, my van played the exact same songs in the exact same order ever day on the ride over. Another ritual is that I always make sure to stretch my back with Kate during warmup. One of my favorite rituals came about my last indoor season. For an unknown reason our team’s unofficial name became “Demolition,” and before every game we’d say the Texas Pride chant then we’d yell Demolition. For some reason every time we yelled it, it made us all really hype.

What made you want to be a college field hockey player?

I had never thought of playing a sport in college until I joined Pride. I knew nothing about recruiting, but after the first time I was selected for NFCs, Tina sat me down and explained every aspect. It hit me for the first time how after high school most people never play the sports they love again. With the NCAA and college sports however, I would have the opportunity to continue to play my sport at an even higher level with girls from all over. It seemed pretty cool in the moment, and ever since that first meeting where I set up my recruiting spreadsheet and email, I knew that I was going to play in college no matter what.

What was one of the toughest experiences?

I think one of my toughest experiences was the NCAA rule changed instilled my sophomore year. Before I even knew there was going to be a rule change in recruiting I had set up a visit with a school I really liked. I was super excited to go on it and meet the team, get to know the coaches better, and move along my recruitment. A week before I was suppose to go on the visit news came about the rule change, and, of course, the rule change came into effect the day before my planned visit. I was devastated because even preexisting trips were not allowed. I could no longer take my visit and now had to wait another 4 months before I could. I was so scared it ruined my chances with the school. In the end, I committed to that very school where my visit was cancelled, so though it may seem like the end of the world multiple times during recruiting, it always works out.

Year you began playing field hockey? How?

I started playing field hockey in 7th grade as my fall sports credit. About a year after that I joined Pride. I had heard about Pride from my friends who had already been doing it for some time and decided to join because I was no longer playing club soccer. It’s funny to think that my sister who has no interest in or like for field hockey did Pride before me and before Tina even ran it, but luckily I feel in love with the sport and get to play in college.

From Tina:
Favorite Kennedy Moment (old) / why?:

Kennedy was a freshmen in high school trying out for our U16 travel team. We had to create two teams because of numbers, and Kennedy made the top U16 team. I think she was surprised that she made the team, but she did a great job. She was so quiet and scared at the beginning, but eventually she settled in to her team and made her impact. It was the first time we saw just how much potential Kennedy had and how in the near future, she would be a great player.

Favorite Kennedy moment (new)/ why?

My favorite Kennedy moment was actually when I heard that she was named co-MVP for her school team last fall. Kennedy had a great season on the field and found a way to step up as a leader even though she didn't have the title of 'captain'. It says a lot about a player when they can find a way to step up regardless of the title given to them. Actions speak louder than words, and the is more true for Kennedy than any other player we've probably worked with. She has continued to grow over the last 9 months into a strong and effective player that is ready to go off to college.

Story we will forever tell about Kennedy:

Kennedy always rose to the occasion. There have been countless games where Kennedy 'showed up' and played unbelievable. From different indoor games to different outdoor games, Kennedy had a way of being a true gamer - this different player who would show up for some important games and crush it. Best example was during her SJS championship this fall when Kennedy played incredible and it made a huge difference.

Favorite Kennedy recruiting moment/ why?

Definitely when Kennedy committed. As she wrote, she had an interesting week and the situation changed pretty quickly with both schools/ visits. She always wanted to go to Columbia from the beginning, so when she finally got her offer, it was so exciting! It's the perfect place for her and she is going to thrive there.

First memory of Kennedy / why?

My first memory of Kennedy was when we were at Futures and she was a middle school athlete. We thought she was a much older player than she actually was and placed her in this older girl developmental group. She was too good for the group, so we had to move her. Tried another group and we had to move her again, and eventually she ended up in the Middle school group with her friends where she belonged. It's an odd story, but it was a good amount of conversations between the coaches trying to figure out who she was, so this story always stuck in my mind as the first time I ever met Kennedy Sholeen.