2005 Testimonials
Here about Swarthmore hockey experiences from the members of the team:
"I am so lucky to be a student-athlete at Swarthmore College. Not only am I getting an amazing education in the classroom, but I am also learning how to be a better person, communicator, and group worker by playing a sport here. I am lucky to be in such an elite group, and I would not trade my experiences on the hockey field or with my teammates for anything. They have taught me how to balance my life, expand my social circle, and gain a broader perspective on Swarthmore College. I love being a student-athlete at Swarthmore College." -- Jessica Larson '06
"The team has been one of the greatest things I've ever been a part of. My teammates are everything from amazingly talented players, to academic advisors, to awesome friends. It might be said that we're in it for the free laundry service, but we all know it's really because of how much it enriches our intellectual, social, and personal experiences here at Swarthmore." -- Natalie Stone '09
"The field hockey program at Swarthmore is phenomenal. I came from an extremely close team in high school and I just knew no girls could replace those I was so accustomed to playing with. My pre-conception was definitely proven to be anything but true as the girls welcomed everyone with open, loving arms. Being part of this hockey team makes me so proud. I can walk around campus holding my head high just knowing I have twenty girls on campus who are like my sisters. I don't know what I would do without them and being a part of the athletic program at Swarthmore makes my first semester complete."-- Ashley Gunter '09
"Swarthmore hockey is funky fresh and super fly."
-- Anna Baeth '09
"Being a Swarthmore College Student and a member of the women's field hockey team is truly an unbeatable combination; we are challenged on the field and in the classroom and we manage to excel both as individuals and as a team. My commitment and dedication to the program stems from my fondest memories of college life so far with this team. Our recent tour of the U.K. really made me realize how fortunate I am to have the support of my teammates and coaches on the field and anywhere else my interests may take me at Swarthmore College." -- Neema Patel '07
"I was attracted to Swarthmore as a whole because the field hockey team is so amazing. The team works hard, but still has a good time. All the girls are always willing to go out of their way for their teammates. Furthermore, being a student-athlete offers me a greater range of opportunities at Swarthmore." -- Jordan Schmidt '09
"From the moment I met Swarthmore College's field hockey team my freshman year, I knew I had met some of my best friends. The close-knit community of Swarthmore is truly ideal for an athlete. We work hard academically and strive for success in and out of the classroom, but when we step out on that field, the only thing that matters is working with your teammates to get the ball in the back of the cage. Swarthmore Athletics has definitely been a highlight of my college career." -- Heidi Fieselmann '06
"Playing field hockey at Swarthmore keeps me grounded. Amidst the chaotic world of Swarthmore that is full of classes, labs, and various other commitments I find that being able to make the daily trek down to the fieldhouse is something to savor. Being a part of this program is a constant reminder that the simple acts of doing something for the joy it brings you and surrounding yourself with people who support, challenge, and inspire you is all that is necessary to maintain a peace of mind."
-- Julie Monaghan '07
"What attracted me most to Swarthmore were the people. Everyone here is so accepting and passionate that you can really grow into your own person here at Swarthmore. It is a place of opportunity and I personally loved my experience with both challenging academics and competitive athletics." -- Rachel Turner '08
"Being a student-athlete at Swarthmore means having a real chance to be both student and athlete. The challenge of simultaneously pushing both mind and body is gratifying and rewarding. Furthermore, being a part of the field hockey program has been an exciting and enjoyable experience socially and personally." -- Karen Lorang '07
"Every day I am grateful for the opportunity to continue participating in college athletics, and to be a member of the hockey team only makes the experience that much more wonderful. My teammates, to me, are the best assets of Swarthmore and sharing the field with 16 other amazing women is such a treat every afternoon. This support certainly extends far beyond the field as well. The intensity of the hockey program is certainly in tune with the college's aspiration of excellence, and both the process and the outcome are incredibly rewarding." -- Lindsay Roth '07
"I love being a student athlete at Swarthmore because of the great people I have met over the years and the wonderful opportunities and things I have been able to experience. Athletics helps me to manage my time and broaden my horizons and with the support of my team I know I can do anything."
-- Abigail Fischer '08
"To be an athlete at any school takes dedication and time management. To be an athlete at Swarthmore College takes on a new meaning. Your team is always present and very easy to find on our small campus. And your team is your network and support in every aspect of Swarthmore life."
-- Saranne Perman '07
"Being a student athlete at Swarthmore is one of the greatest decisions I have ever made. The bond between the team is very powerful and I can't imagine being at Swat without it."
-- Melissa LaVan '07
"Education is about so much more than what goes on in the classroom. For me, the lessons I have learned on the field - dedication, commitment, the meaning of hard work, honor, love, pride, glory, and the wisdom in victory and defeat - have given me the skills to excel in the classroom and far beyond it. Additionally, teamwork is such an essential part of any kind of success. For me, never has there been a better place to learn the value of teamwork than with my team here at Swarthmore. Together we are elated and lifted by one another's successes and rebuild in the fact of one another's failures, both when we are playing hockey and when we are not. It is la famiglia; to steal the words of Dostoevsky, we 'share a good and kind feeling.' " --Chloe Lewis '06
"As a member of the Swarthmore field hockey team, I'm not always just surrounded by my friends, I'm surrounded by family members. Being on the team means being a part of the family, both on and off the field. No matter what, someone is there when you need advice, a little inspiration, or just someone to have some fun with. Year after year, we improve as a unit and I know this is our year to shine."
-- Summer Spicer '07
"I feel very fortunate to be a part of the field hockey program at Swarthmore College. Here, I have found my teammates to be delightfully, engaging people full of intellectual vivacity in addition to being committed athletes with a true love for the game. This combination cannot be found just anywhere; it takes a little Swattie magic to make it work. Having the opportunity to be a part of the Swarthmore hockey family is an experience I know I will cherish long after I r
etire from my Garnet jersey."
-- Alexandra Clegg '08
"Swarthmore field hockey is a family. It means so much to be on a team with 20 of the kindest, most intelligent, and most humorous people I know. It's great to play a sport at Swarthmore and exercise my body as well as my mind on a team with all my friends." -- Madalyn Baldanzi '08
"I enjoy athletics at Swarthmore because it gives me an excuse to literally play for two hours with my friends every day. I also enjoy playing sports here just for the sake of getting outside and getting exercise - "Mens Sana in Corpore Sano" - sound mind in a sound body!" -- Charlotte MacAusland '06
"The term "field hockey" can be about wins and losses, X's and O's, corners or goals scored, but put "Swarthmore" in front of it and an entirely new scope of meaning and images emerge: long bus rides to conference games with the Pennsylvania countryside view, beautiful fall afternoons spent sweating on the turf amidst the autumn trees, overtime games in rain, cold or shine (some won, some lost, but all played with heart) and, of course, a team camaraderie often described as the best on campus. My experience with the field hockey program here has changed my perception of field hockey in a way I never will, and will never want to, forget. Over the past four years, Swarthmore field hockey has meant more to me than just the wins and losses, the X's and O's." -- Jessica Whitfield '06