Interim Athletic Director Mike Pinelli interviewed alumni Kieran Willey ‘16, Jackie “Barr” Daniel ‘15, and Madison Hallstrom ‘15 to learn about their journey from DC field hockey student-athletes to DC field hockey coaches.
Kieran Willey/Jacklyn Daniel Q&A interview:
What do you think of your team's performance this season?
Our team has worked very hard this year. As a young team, we have held our own against more experienced teams, although we have not always had the outcomes we wanted. We have worked hard to gel as a team, and that has paid off in our passing on the field.
How have you been able to develop a young team?
As a young team, we lack the experience and skills of the more experienced teams we play against. However, we make up for that in our conditioning and grit. Our goal this year was to do the basics right and be able to outrun our opponents. We don't focus on fancy skills or complicated plays. We focus on doing the little things right and always getting better than we were the day before. Having only three returning players allowed everyone to come in with fresh eyes and a blank slate, and learn as a group rather than having a few new players adapting to how we played before. Our younger players, particularly freshmen, have had the opportunity to step up and lead.
How have you seen your team progress since preseason?
Our team has learned a lot since preseason. We have had a lot of games back to back that have given us a chance to work on playing at game speed. We have also grown as a community, learning how to handle losses and how to lift each other up on the field. We have seen great improvement in our positioning as each player has grown more confident in their positions.
How did your experience at DC help you become the coach you are today?
As a player I had great coaches who held us to high standards and also taught us that there was more to playing than just playing. They taught us how the things we did and the lessons we learned would show and grow our character. I think that has added a lot more meaning to how I coach and what I want the girls to get out of each season. Jackie and I model a lot of what we do on how we were coached and often find ourselves repeating the things our coaches told us (or even crouching on the ground in frustration just like they did).
What do you feel is the best part about coaching for your alma mater?
I know this doesn't answer this question directly but coaching alongside my former teammates sets us up for success right away. We have very similar expectations because we came from the same program. Starting on the same page helps us to have a great jumping off point. It also provides consistency through middle school into high school. The freshmen who came in this season were taught in a very similar way we coach at the high school level.
Madison Hallstrom Q&A Interview:
What do you think of your team's performance this season?
So far, the middle school field hockey team has shown tremendous effort in perfecting their game and improving their performance. This year our theme verse is 1 Chronicles 29:17, “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity..." We have been focused on playing with integrity and pleasing the Lord with our actions. So, whether we are at practice, or in a game, that is our main focus. Because of this, I've seen the girls encouraging one another and working hard. They even ask “what can I work on over the weekend?” which is a great, coachable spirit to have. The girls are really starting to pick up the way the game works - that’s the biggest improvement I’ve seen so far this season. Most of our 6th graders have never played before and have such a better understanding of the spacing on the field and the flow of the game since the start of the season.
How have you been able to develop a young team?
Engaging students before they go to middle school has been a huge part of the growth of our program. When I first started coaching in 2019, I hosted clinics over the summer to get the word out about field hockey. This past spring, we started a field hockey club at the Lower School for 3rd-5th graders. Introducing the game to the younger students peaks their interest and gives them a leg up in developing their skills. Hopefully, by the time the 3rd graders from last year make it to middle school, they will be well versed in the game of field hockey.
Any other thoughts about your team?
A valuable lesson our team has been discussing this season is that every role on the team matters. Whether you are cheering on your teammates from the sideline or are scoring the game winning goal, every role contributes, and every role is important. It's a beautiful picture of what the body of Christ looks like.
How did your experience at DC help you become the coach you are today?
Some of my best memories from middle school and high school are from playing field hockey. I love reflecting on those times and creating those kinds of memories with my players. My coach in high school, Katie Levis, taught me so much about being a woman of God on and off the field. She not only developed us as players, but developed us into strong, bold, courageous women. I hope that I carry her legacy into my style of coaching. She showed me that you can be kind and strong, you can be loving and bold, you can be gentle and courageous. I think that’s an important lesson for young Christian women to learn, and I’m thankful I learned it from her because it has helped shape me into the coach, teacher, and person I am today.
What do you feel is the best part about coaching for your alma mater?
I’m thankful that I get to continue in the legacy of those who came before me as coaches at DC. Some of the seeds that were planted in me as a student-athlete at DC didn’t take root until later in life, but the value of those lessons is priceless. Now, I am honored to have the opportunity to be the person planting those seeds. I really believe in the mission of this school - that is why I came back to teach here - and that is why I am thankful for the opportunity to serve as a coach as well. I believe that the faculty and staff at DC are an exceptional group of people and the school provides an exemplary education. I know that having strong sports programs is a way to help the school grow, so I am thankful for the chance to do my part in helping create a thriving school community so that the legacy of DC can live on.
