Julia Wysocki '20 Recruiting Profile

I started skating when I was 5 years old.  My mom signed me up for figure skating lessons and I hated them.  I couldn't wait until they were over so I could move onto something else.  That was until the day I saw the hockey players take the ice.  That's when I knew what I really wanted to do.  I traded in my figure skates for hockey skates and never looked back!  I have played every year since.  Rotating between boys teams and girls teams to get the experience of both.  I started out on defense, then played wing, and then moved to center.  So I know every position and how to play it well.  I have trained with coaches from Canada, Russia, Sweden as well as the US and have learned something of value from all of them.  I have tried lots of other sports and I always come back to hockey.  Simply put - I love the game!  It's in my heart and soul, and when I'm on the ice it's like nothing I can explain.  It's my passion - and because of this I give it my all.  I practice hard and I play hard.  It's who I am.

What best defines me is my character and my leadership.  To me character is about being honest and having strong moral values.  It’s holding myself to a high standard even when there is pressure not too.  It’s being a leader others can look up to.  Someone that makes my parents proud.  And leadership, to me, means helping everyone else before myself.  It’s giving others a hand because they are struggling.  It’s about inspiring people to do better than they think they can.  It’s about bringing a group together to focus on a common goal.  It’s setting a high standard and leading people to follow that standard. 

My life has been challenging in many ways, but all of the challenges have allowed me to understand that every day is a gift and an opportunity to work hard, give back and make the world a better place.  I am fully committed to excellence and give 110% in everything I do.  That commitment is what you will see on and off the ice - as a player, a team mate and a person.