Alison Pinnock, a junior at Ursuline Academy, didn’t have much exposure to field hockey when she decided to join the high school team freshman year. “I played very briefly in sixth grade and just picked it because I didn’t have a fall sport to play,” she says. It turned out to be a good decision.
The 17-year-old was named Rookie of the Year as a sophomore and has had national success with her club team, Aim Field Hockey. In 2013, the team won second at the Regional Club Championship and placed fourth overall at the National Club Championship. This summer, the team won first place at regionals and placed seventh at nationals. “Making it all the way to nationals two years in a row was a huge accomplishment,” Pinnock says. “My club coaches have really taught me a lot about the sport, and it’s a great opportunity to play with other girls from local high schools.”
Her club team practices only when the high school season is complete, but it’s a year-round commitment. “We have an indoor winter league, a spring league and we play in the tournaments in the summer. When we practice, it’s three to four days a week,” she explains.
The Ursuline team practices every day during the week, and some weekends. “We have a new coach this year, and we’re really working on developing as a team,” she says. “I like playing with the high school team because it’s all about having fun.” Pinnock, who also is on the soccer team, says she hopes to continue playing at the college level.