Allegra Nelson '23 Recruiting Profile

My name is Allegra Nelson, and I’ve been playing field hockey since I was five. I grew up playing every sport, but I took an immediate interest in field hockey and became quickly involved with Field Hockey British Columbia (FHBC). I enjoyed the community level sports and training and became more invested in the competitive side and regional training program. In 2019, at age 13, I missed making the U15 Team BC. Instead of wallowing in disappointment,  I took this missed opportunity as a lesson in persistence and resilience as I ramped up my efforts at practice and outside of it. That fall, I started lifting weights once a week with a personal trainer and small group to enhance my athleticism. COVID’s interruption of programmed sports led to my gym training through Zoom, stick skills training in my backyard, and the time to increase my speed through running workouts. I began to dedicate and prioritize my fitness with the same determination I’d always applied to my academics. I took advantage of every opportunity to train and play sports as the COVID restrictions lifted. 

I often complete back to back training sessions from field to gym. When the next Team BC trial became available I was determined to pursue it and apply all I had learned and trained for. My efforts were rewarded with a position on the squad for the U18 Team BC. My initial ‘failure’ to make Team BC taught me persistence, tenacity, and the drive to chase after my dreams. My hard work truly paid off when I was selected to train with NextGen this September, an elite Field Hockey Canada training squad.

Aside from my busy sports schedule with field hockey, gym training, and soccer, I am also a dedicated student at St Michaels University School. I am an active participant in the greater school community, performing in my school’s musicals, playing on the soccer and field hockey teams, and contributing to various clubs and councils. This year, in Grade 12, I am taking on a leadership role as a selected prefect, giving me the chance to utilize the leadership skills I’ve built throughout my years in sport.

 I am looking to find the best fit for myself in university, to find a school that will allow me to follow my academic interests and play and compete with field hockey at the collegiate level.