Rowan Burkel '27 Recruiting Profile

My long-term goal is to play field hockey at the collegiate level at a competitive school with teammates that inspire and support one another and love the game while also receiving a quality education to prepare me to attend graduate school to receive my PhD in Psychology.

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At the age of 8 I attended a field hockey meet-the-athlete event at the University of Michigan. We got to spend an hour after a game with the players learning a bit about field hockey. It was my first time picking up a field hockey stick, but I knew immediately that I had found my sport! I played with my local rec and ed team for several years before playing for my middle school team and then joining FDL the fall of 2022 (delayed after six months of rehab due to a knee injury). Since joining FDL, I have grown tremendously as a field hockey player, as a teammate, and as a leader on and off the field. I love that I am playing with other talented and passionate players and that we support each other's goals.

My freshman year of high school I decided to try out for the soccer team with a goal to stay conditioned for field hockey. I had a successful first year, being on the JV team as a starter, playing in several Varsity games, and being named by the coaches as the Most Improved Player. I have much to learn about soccer, but the experience has helped me better anticipate and respond to plays in field hockey. Because soccer is a much more physical sport, I now have more confidence on the field hockey pitch with my body positioning as well as my speed at cutting to the ball. I am eager to see how my continued participation in soccer helps my field hockey game. I plan to play indoor soccer along with indoor field hockey during the winter months to stay active and work on skills.