Kathryn Swineford '20 Recruiting Profile

Hello, my name is Kathryn Anne Swineford, but please call me “Kat” I prefer that. A little about me, I was born and raised in Lewistown, PA surrounded by a large family who I have to say was awesome. In the summer before my 9^th grade year we moved from Lewistown to Milford Massachusetts, here we are closer to my Nana and my Uncle. Who are equally as awesome, my uncle is hilarious! And my Nana’s food makes Gordan Ramsey look like a short order cook. It is safe to say that greatest influences in my life are my family. In fact, it was my grandmother (Mee-maw) who introduced me to Field Hockey, My Aunt Ann played in High School and at Westchester University. So, my mom signed me up for a camp when I was in Kindergarten, with Coach MacClay (Head Coach of the local High School Field Hockey team) she was an awesome coach. At first, I wasn’t so sure but the more I played, the more I fell in love. My Mee-maw loved to watch me play right up until she passed away, she is in heaven, but now she just has a better view of me on the field.

You really learn a lot playing a team sport, and I learned a lot about myself in this game. I learned that if you have a skill use it, there is no “I” in team, and admittedly I am shy, and I don’t really like to talk about myself but on the field, I let it all out, and lead my team on the field. I always help my teammates if they don’t understand something during practice. But most importantly, I learned that working hard, practice makes you better. As I said, I am shy and a little self-conscious that is an obstacle that I had to overcome, I would see other girls who were more outgoing were getting playing time, and I thought they were better than me. That’s when I began practicing harder and working harder to get the playing time and I found that I can go head to head with these girls, and the coach and other players noticed, and I got the playing time. I also, gained the trust of my teammates and we played better as a team and began to win. Being a team, is important on the field, it is also important off the field. What we do in our communities, and in school. Education is very important, I want to study engineering in college, and I want to join the Air Force. My goal is to get A’s and B’s during the remaining High School years I have. I also volunteer at my Church. This summer I was a teacher’s aide during vacation bible school and helped the Knights of Columbus with the Parish Picnic. In both situations, young girls were in attendance and I would talk about Field Hockey to gain more interest in the sport here in Milford.