Junior Leah Foltyn plays field hockey for John Carroll and has been an asset to the varsity team since her freshman year.

Leah is a strong midfielder and a forward, making her knowledge of the game and creativity the most important aspect of her play.

As this year’s club field hockey season ended, Leah also completed her recruiting journey. Leah spent most of her time this summer talking to Division I college coaches who matched her desires. Decision making was not easy, but it was worth the hard work.

 “Field hockey has taught me management and leadership skills. These things have carried over to my schoolwork and not only made me a better athlete but also a better student,” Leah said.

Athletically, her success can be attributed to her dedication from such an early age. “I worked hard to develop my skills at a very young age. I trained constantly. I practice my stick skills at home, in the gym — wherever I had the chance. With a solid foundation, I was able to build up to where I am now.”

As her abilities improved, the possibility of college field hockey became a reality.

 “From when I first started, I always dreamed of playing in college. I did have a time where I wasn’t sure if I wanted to because it was all so stressful. In the end, though, I regained my love for the sport,” she commented.

Leah stresses that when choosing a school, an athlete should have a “balance of academics, socials, and athletics,” if they plan to play a sport. She wants to major in engineering, which is a top major at UPenn. Leah is taking multiple science and STEAM courses at JC to prepare.

Her advice for athletes looking to play collegiately is: “On the first day you can get recruited; you might get a hundred calls, but you also might get none. Both are completely okay and do not define your worth as a player. It doesn’t mean you won’t get recruited, either. No matter what, whatever happens, will be what is best for you.”