Abigail O'Meara '20 Recruiting Profile

    I began playing field hockey eight years ago for Wilton Youth Field Hockey, and I quickly fell in love with the sport. At eight years old I began competing in the offseason with Fairfield County United (FCU). I was Captain of the Red U-16 team that competed in Indoor Nationals that year. FCU was a great environment for me to develop and improve my skills with tough competition. Two years ago I began playing in the offseason for Emily Townsend Prince’s club team, NYCONN. I’m proud to be a part of the charter class of a new club led by Emily and Mo Minicus, Chelsea Piers Field Hockey Club (CPFHC). The environment that they have created has allowed me to become a leader on the field and take advantage of all of the opportunities they have given my team and I. I leave it all out there - 100% on the field.

    I have been playing for the St. Luke’s School Varsity field hockey since I started as a new student in ninth grade. I have been honored to be selected as one of the captains on my high school team for the 2019 season. I am a four-year starter. As a sophomore and junior, I was selected for the FAA All-League Honorable Mention, a recognition of outstanding athletic achievement.

    Every moment that I am working on the field, whether a practice or a game, I work hard to improve my individual skills in collaboration with my team. I am a team player. I have developed my skills and am playing attack and midfield with speed and versatility. When on the field, I have been told that I have great vision and am good at creating space to set my team up for a goal opportunity. My goal is to bring my hard work, dedication, and experience to a college or university that will become my next hockey family.

    Besides field hockey, I also have a deep passion for Marine Science and Conservation. I will be attending my fifth year at the Acadia Institute of Oceanography (AIO) in Bar Harbor, Maine this summer. AIO has offered me a hands-on curriculum studying the coast of Northeast Maine through field and lab work and lectures. This summer I will earn college credits in my Capstone session. My high school Marine Science teacher has become a mentor and friend. Last summer I was involved in an internship with Save the Sound, under the Soundkeeper on Long Island Sound to collect micro-plastics with a Manta Trawl and analyze that collection in a lab. I will be continuing my internship this summer. I am also involved in the Salt Ponds Coalition in Rhode Island, conducting salt pond safaris and helping to teach young children about ecology in Block Island Sound. I am looking for a college that would allow me to develop my passion into a career.

    I am a three year  JV tennis player at St Luke's. Last season, I was also the manager of that team. I also volunteered at Woodcock Nature Center in my home town as a CIT for their youth programs in the summer. Over the past three years at St. Luke’s I have also involved in several clubs at my school including Outdoors Club, Women in STEM, Women in Humanities, Lunch, and Lead, Be Kind and Between the Lines. The club I am most proud of my contributions to is the Service Board at school. I have been a member for three years and this year reinstated an event we lovingly named Souper Bowl. I contacted five local schools to promote a contest to collect cans ahead of Super Bowl Sunday. My efforts resulted in 1251 pounds of food for local families that might have gone without.

    I am interested in a college that is challenging and collaborative. I have a true excitement for learning, I am always wanting to explore and discover new ideas. My college home will allow me to be intellectually adventurous and have the possibility for me to make an impact on my community. I look forward to finding a college that allows me to deeply connect with my professors, connect with the local community and get involved in student activities on campus. It is my goal to attend a college or university that challenges me academically and athletically to be able to grow into the best person I can be.

    Fun Fact! I’ve attended seven Olympic Games with my family! I look forward to supporting the USA field hockey team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics!