Sarah Doherty '25 Recruiting Profile

"Methuen/Tewksbury Sophomore Sarah Doherty plays such an aggressive brand of hockey. Disrupts two different possessions, Red Rangers nearly out of trouble on the PK." ~Boston Herald sports writer Matt Mulherin's Tweet during MIAA Division 1 High School Hockey Playoff Game.

I pride myself on being a physically aggressive hockey player who goes out every shift and leaves everything I have out on the ice. I was also blessed with a loud voice that I use to communicate with my team during my shifts on the ice and on the bench between my shifts. One of the biggest compliments I get from my coaches is that I’m coachable. I always want feedback on what I need to improve upon and I work hard to get better both on and off the ice. At practices I ask questions to make sure I’m understanding exactly what the coaches want me to do, and that I’m doing it correctly because I want to be the best I can possibly be for my team. If I have a tough shift or make a stupid mistake, I’m the first to take responsibility for it and work to not let it happen again.  

My hardworking and humble character is what has made me academically and athletically successful so far in life. This is also something that has gotten me through three brain surgeries in five years.  When I was in 5th grade, I had an AVM rupture and that needed to be removed as an emergency. Then in 8th grade--the year I made my high school Varsity team, they found a benign brain tumor that was starting to grow, so they went in and tried to remove it. Unfortunately they couldn’t get it all and it started to grow again so they need to go in again this June, at the end of my sophomore year of high school.  Even though I will need to take this summer to rehab, I know I will be back and stronger than ever.

Despite having to deal with the painful recovery after brain surgery, I am always looking for ways to keep strong during my rehab.  I will stick handle and shoot pucks around the house and in the driveway, focus on nutrition, and strength training in the gym.  Anything the doctors will let me do before they let me lace the skates back up, I will do it.  Hockey is in my blood and I want to be on the ice any chance I can get.  I also insisted on keeping the most rigorous academic schedule during these times. I take all honors classes, AP classes, and have maintained a 3.9 GPA.

I don’t tell you this for sympathy, in fact I really don’t like to talk about it, but I tell you this because in every instance I fought my way back onto the ice and into the classroom without ever looking for special treatment or accommodations.  I feel like this speaks to my dedication and perseverance to my athletic and academic success.  I know I have what it takes to handle the most rigorous of programs and academics out there because, in my own way, I’ve already had to.