Mikayla DeMichele '21 Recruiting Profile

Sports have always been an incredibly important part of my life.

    I began both swimming and gymnastics when I was 6 and had many accomplishments in both sports. I dedicated lots of time, especially to gymnastics, and watched myself grow as an athlete. I started diving when I was 8 and have won several championships in summer and winter competitions. I also played travel soccer for 7 years, until I decided to try field hockey in high school.

    I decided to try field hockey because my older sister, who was a senior when I was starting high school,  played. With an awesome coach who creates a great sense of community on our team, I found that I really enjoyed playing this sport. Due to the time commitment of hockey, as well as my commitment to my academics, I ended up stopping gymnastics, a sport that had been at the center of my world since I was in first grade. It was a tough decision, but I truly wanted to be a part of a school team and grow as a field hockey player.

    Unfortunately, my freshman season was not very successful for me as a player. Being a strong and natural athlete, everyone assumed I would excel on the hockey field. However, never having played a sport with a stick impacted my success more than I could have anticipated. I was a sub on the JV team and spent much of my freshman year season cheering on my teammates from the bench! It was a humbling experience and also increasingly frustrating, as I wished I could just be good enough to have more playing time.

    After my freshman season, my parents wondered if I might want to return to soccer, as I had been MVP of the intramural community team that fall. But I didn’t want to give up on field hockey. So I tried out for, and participated in, the USA Field Hockey Futures Program that winter and improved my skills. As I started my sophomore year, the varsity coach noticed my improvement and my speed, and said she wanted me to be a “swing player.” I ended up being a starter in both regular and overtime play. I was selected for 3rd team All-league honors and earned the “Most Improved” award for the season; that team award meant a lot to me because it helped me see my growth from freshman year to sophomore year.

    I played for Futures again in winter 2019, before my junior year, and in my 2019 junior year varsity season, I was voted MVP for my high school team, as well as earning 2nd team All-League recognition. As I started my college exploration, I realized that I want to play in college. I have since joined Mayhem Club Field Hockey and continue to want to improve my skills.

    In addition to the time I spend playing, I work hard to succeed in school and serve on the Event Leadership Team for my local Relay For Life, which supports the American Cancer Society. I also work at a local retirement home as a server and at the nursery at my church. I enjoy being with my family and my friends, and I try to keep a balance among sports, school, work and social life.