Brooke Detling '27 Recruiting Profile

When I was 3 years old my mom put me in dance class. She says that I cried every week before class, but she thought that I was crying because I didn’t want to be separated from her. My mom told me that after one class I looked at her and said, “I don’t want to dance. I want to play baseball.” Since it was winter and baseball was not an option, my mom and dad took me to the local ice rink to try skating. My dad skated with me. My mom tells me that after we came off the ice, he brought me over to her and I said, “No more dance. Just hockey.” I haven’t left the ice since.

In the past decade I have tried numerous sports. I also really like volleyball and have been playing for four years. In my hometown of Wheeling, WV, I participated in the Learn to Play league until reaching the competitive level playing for the U10 girls house league. When I moved up to U12, I joined both coed house and coed travel teams. That was the year I also tried out for more serious travel teams, and earned a spot with the Steel City Selects in Pittsburgh, PA. My second year of U12 girls travel, I played for Robert Morris University’s Arctic Foxes. I am now a freshman at Wheeling Park High School. This year has been quite an adjustment learning to balance travel with the girls U14 South Pittsburgh Rebellion squad, the high school freshman volleyball team, and playing on the junior varsity hockey team at WPHS. So far this team at school has been a lot of fun being reunited with many of the boys I played hockey on and off with since I was very little.  Although we do have a female goalie, I am the only girl skater on the JV team.

Another thing I have had to adjust to is the more challenging curriculum of high school. I finished my 8^th grade year with a 4.0 GPA. I am proud to say that my grades are A average, and due to weighted Honors courses, I am consistantly carrying a GPA above 4.0. My goal is not only to improve my skills on the ice, but to maintain A averages in the classroom. I know I can do it. Hockey has taught me how to be disciplined and work hard to be successful. To play on a team you must be able to always communicate clearly with coaches and other players. This has taught me to never be afraid to reach out to my teachers If I am struggling or need some help. Also, I am outgoing! Playing on a new team every year used to be intimidating but now I love it. I have met so many amazing people and have best friends in different states! I try to always be the best version of myself on the ice and off the ice. My behavior reflects everyone who influences me – not just my coaches and teammates, but also my parents, family, and friends.

On the ice my biggest strength is my skating. I am very strong. I play aggressively and almost always win battles along the boards. Whether I am playing with girls or boys, I am good at creating space for myself on offense or defense.  Agility and coordination have always come naturally to me. My athleticism is my gift. Using my gift to play women’s college hockey is my dream.