Glenelg Graduate in the News: Mary Kate Olson Meet USA Field Hockeys DIII 2014 MVP Mary Kate Olson Congratulations to Mary Kate Olson, USA Field Hockeys peer-voted DIII MVP of the 2014 regular season! Learn more about this star standout below. Whether she’s exploring new terrain on a hike or tightly defending a rival attacker on the pitch, Mary Kate Olson believes in taking each moment one step at a time. With a composed mindset and competitive spirit, the Woodland, Md. native is a natural leader for the Franklin & Marshall Field Hockey squad. Add her impressive skill set, selfless attitude and dedication to excellence and Olson is a ferocious threat both on the field and in the classroom. Continually inspired by her teammates’ tenacity, Olson, a junior, has been a standout starter on the Diplomats’ defensive unit since 2012. In 2013, she was named to the Synapse Sports All-America Second Team, Longstreth NFHCA DIII All-America Second Team, Longstreth/NFHCA DIII All-South Region First Team and All-Centennial Conference First Team. No matter how many more accolades sure to come in the talented defender’s career, Olson’s future looks bright with her belief that the greatest privilege is the opportunity to play alongside her incredible teammates. USA Field Hockey: What’s your most memorable moment of the 2014 regular season? MKO: One of the most memorable moments would definitely be our win against Mary Washington. In the second half, we came back from a two-goal deficit to tie the game and then took the lead with two minutes left in regular time. They are an amazing opponent, and it was such a wonderful win to celebrate with the team! USA Field Hockey: Whom do you consider your field hockey role model or mentor to be? MKO: To be quite honest, my teammates are my role models. I am so fortunate to play with such amazing women who push me to be my very best each day both on and off the field. Every day at practice we are always pushing each other to compete at a higher level and everything I do is for them. My teammates’ skill, tenacity, and composure constantly inspire me and without their support and excellent skill, I would not be the player I am today. USA Field Hockey: What words of advice do you have for those aspiring to play hockey at the collegiate level? MKO: My advice would be this: keep playing because you love the sport, the thrill and competition. That’s when things will begin to fall in place. You’ll find the college program you are meant to be with if you keep in mind your personal values and goals and keep working hard between all the schoolwork, practices, and games. USA Field Hockey: When did you begin playing hockey and how were you introduced to the sport? MKO: I began playing field hockey in fifth grade and was introduced to the sport through a family friend. After that, it was easy. I was a kid who fell in love with the sport and loved having the opportunity to play! USA Field Hockey: As seasoned defender for the Diplomats, what is your mindset before heading into matches? MKO: One of the reasons I chose F&M is that the Centennial Conference has great competition. That being said, I approach every game with a similar mindset: every opponent is going to be aggressive and skillful. You just have to play your game, trust your teammates, and capitalize on opportunities given to determine the outcome on the game. USA Field Hockey: Do you have any pre-match rituals? What’s your routine leading up to the game look like? MKO: Don’t we all? Apart from the small superstitions here and there, my one main ritual would probably be our daily dance parties in the locker room. Dancing to our different playlists is probably the best way to get amped for a big game—not to mention it helps to shake out any nerves to get loose before playing! USA Field Hockey: When put in a numbers down situation or a similar obstacle arises during a game, how to you keep composure and focus? MKO: Our coach always tells us to take it one moment at a time, one play at a time. To me, those are excellent words to both live and play by. Having this particular mindset when taking the field reminds you that there will be both good and bad times, but it’s all about how you react to them. Everyone always says that it’s never who is more skilled that wins the game, it’s always who wants it more—and it’s true! USA Field Hockey: What’s your major? How do you balance the demands of school with your desire to continually excel in hockey? MKO: I am a Business, Organizations, and Society major at F&M. That’s one thing about going Division III for field hockey—it’s a great balance between field hockey and academics! I try to get the majority of my work done during the day so that way after a practice or a game I can get some rest to stay healthy for the season. It’s a little tricky to sort out the balance in the beginning but having a good academic semester makes the season that much more enjoyable! USA Field Hockey: What is your favorite pastime/hobby off the field? MKO: One of my favorite activities off the field is hiking. It’s so fun to hike different trails. It’s also a great workout and a fun way to go exploring with your friends!
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 01:52:24 +0000
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