What led you to choose Bemidji State for your college hockey journey?

When I visited, the school just felt like home and the coaches were awesome. It was definitely a school of interest before I could even talk to coaches regarding hockey so when they called me it was super exciting.

How would you describe the process of talking to the school’s coaches and all that stuff? Did you visit? Etc. 

I visited the school before I could talk to the coaches. That’s kind of when I knew I wanted to go there. It was all just really really chill just because the coaches know that you’re gonna be nervous and they’ve done this so many times with players. You know, I knew the Bemidji coach very well before I even had a phone call, so it was really comfortable. 

When did you decide you wanted to play college hockey and why?

Well, I made a AAA team and they told me to move houses in order to play. So I moved. And then I realized that’s something I actually really wanted to do. So obviously I moved to go play for them. And then just the competition got better and I grew my love for the game. 

Is there anyone or anything in your hockey career that you would say heavily influenced or guided you to this point?

My brother Danny is a hockey player as well so he’s definitely been a big part of my hockey journey and I just always know he will be in my corner. 

How would you describe the process of talking to the school’s coaches and all that stuff? Did you visit? Etc. 

It was really fun to be honest. It was pretty chill. It wasn’t as stressful as I thought it would be and it was just better than I would have expected.

When did you decide you wanted to play college hockey and why?

I’d say when I moved to Benilde and made varsity, I knew I wanted to play hockey in college. It kind of just helped me gain more confidence and I felt like I had proved to myself that I could do it.

How did you first get into baseball?

My brother played baseball and my dad played growing up. So I was just around it as a kid, and then I would always be around my brother’s teams and started playing from a very young age. 

When did you realize that playing baseball in college could become a reality?

I was always pretty good when I was younger, and then when I was probably 13 or 14 and one of the better players on my team, I started to fall in love with baseball. I started trying to make myself better so that I could play college baseball. 

What made you want to go to James Madison University?

I love Coach Ikenberry and the relationship I have with him. I also love the campus. It’s a very good conference, and I have family near JMU, so I can visit them if I ever feel homesick. 

What separated Tufts University from other colleges you were interested in?

I think just being a high academic school, that’s strong in the biomedical sciences, because that’s what I’m interested in doing in the future. So I think that being able to play volleyball at a school where I can also pursue the academic path that I want is super important to me. 

What was your recruitment process like?

I was in the recruiting process for a little over a year. So I think it was definitely challenging but worth it in the end to be able to find a school like Tufts to play volleyball. 

What about playing college volleyball are you looking forward to most?

I think just competing with other girls and athletes who are as passionate and excited about volleyball as I am and just having the experience of being on a collegiate team playing in a different area against girls I’ve never seen before.

How did you get exposed to your recent college commitment?

Some of my major exposure came from my high school coaches reaching out to some of their acquaintances who happened to be college coaches. However, most of my exposure came from doing club tournaments out east and performing in front of them.

What are the 3 biggest factors that contributed to this decision?

I would definitely say that my three biggest factors would first be the location of the school, the second being quality of education, and then the third would be the coaches and quality of the program.

Now that you have committed….. How do you plan to prepare yourself?

I’ve been preparing myself ever since the day I committed through training and preparation with my high school team, I’ve just been trying to make myself the best player I can be for my team.

What are the 3 biggest factors that contributed to your decision?

My 3 biggest factors would be the school’s campus itself, the coaches, and how close it is to home.

Why do you feel this school recruited you?

I think that they liked the way I played and my hard work. They have also been watching me for a long time.

Now that you have committed….. How do you plan to prepare yourself?

 I plan to prepare myself by working hard in the gym, practicing every day, and staying away from distractions off the field.

How did you get exposed to your recent college commitment?

They reached out to me because they were looking for players. That’s how they got on my list. Then they offered me and that was super exciting for me.

What are the 3 biggest factors that contributed to this decision?

Definitely the location being North Carolina since I wanted to be in warm weather. Another reason is money which was a big part of my decision, and then I have family down there as well.

How do you feel BSM lacrosse has prepared you to excel at the next level?

BSM lacrosse has prepared me in a lot of ways. One is the coach and how she prepares me in so many different ways. For example, the practices are like a college team’s practice.

Being only a junior in high school, why did you decide to commit so early on?

Western Michigan has been my number one choice, and committing just feels nice so I don’t have to worry about college right now at least hockey wise. 

What led you to choose Western Michigan University for your college hockey journey?

Their coach is one of the main reasons. He is a really good person and I went to some of their games and practices and I love the way he coaches. Their games overall have an amazing atmosphere.

When in your life did you decide you wanted to play college hockey and why?

When I was about 5 or 6 I knew this was something I really wanted to do in my life. There are many different good leagues you can play in that aren’t colleges but I have really always wanted to play college hockey.