University of Massachusets Athletics
Q&A With Field Hockey's Katelyn Woolfrey
November 01, 2005 | Field Hockey
Nov. 1, 2005
Q: Why did you start playing field hockey?
A: I was in seventh grade, and my junior high didn't have women's soccer yet-only a men's team. Girls were allowed to play, but it got really rough and did not play much, so my friends and I who had played soccer for years decided to try and play field hockey.
Q: What drew you to UMass?
A: I had gone through high school and didn't get recruited for any of the three sports that I played, so I looked for schools based on specific programs. I was looking into biochemistry and UMass has one of the top programs in the country, so I came here. The price was right. I then talked to (Head Coach) Patty Shea and everything worked out from there.
Q: What's the hardest part about being a walk-on and competing for playing time vs. scholarship athletes?
A: When I first came to UMass, I expected to be sent home within a couple of days. I remember calling home one night and crying to my dad about how I missed every ball. I had never played on turf before, but eventually it all worked out.
Q: How has your game changed since being here?
A: Drastically! Playing on grass and switching to turf was a huge adjustment, from how I receive the ball to how much smoother the ball gets past to the technique. When I first got here, my play was very choppy, very much "hit the ball and run" type skill. Our assistant coach did individual sessions to orientate my skills to a turf game so now I feel much more confident. Instead of thinking about how I am going to receive the ball, I think about what I am going to do next. It's a different mindset.
Q: Do you have any pregame superstitions?
A: Not really, not since my sophomore year because we lost a lot, but I definitely have a pattern of what I do and when I do it.
Q: Tell me about your one career game-winning goal vs. Fairfield your sophomore year?
A: It was overtime and they threw me in as a forward and I hadn't played in any of the overtime up to that point. They tossed me in and I was in the right place at the right time. All I had to do was touch it.
Q: What's your most memorable moment while playing a sport?
A: I was the pitcher on an under 16-team softball team. It was just a small local town team and in tournaments we always play against rebel teams, which are the best kids from all over. It was a state tournament that if you won, you went on to the regional. We were playing the rebel team, I was pitching, and we ended up winning. It was just something that no one expected. It was an amazing feeling when people who were athletically not as good could come through and beat a better team
Q: Majoring in Biochemistry, minoring in Math and education, and being a DI athlete must make your life pretty busy, how do you handle it all?
A: You don't sleep! It's something I have always done from high school on up. You just have to set a schedule; my planner is always full of everything. You do lose sleep sometimes but you have to set your priorities. It's great at UMass, especially in the science department, because the professors want to help you out.
Q: Outside of field hockey, what else is important in your life?
A: I really like to travel. I studied abroad sophomore year in Australia and that really got me to see what other cultures have to offer. I got to travel everywhere and was by myself a lot, so you really get to know who you are as a person and the things you value.
Q: What's your most memorable moment outside of sports?
A: Going to Australia and that whole experience. First off, my coaches for letting me go because a lot of Division I athletes don't get that opportunity. Then just going over there A lot of people didn't like Americans because of the war that is going on. It was very rewarding just to go and introduce yourself as an American. Getting people to rethink what they think of Americans. Because their TV is "Jerry Springer" and "Ricky Lake" so they are only seeing the negative aspect.
Q: What are your plans after you graduate?
A: I can't believe my senior year of field hockey is almost done. I want to go to medical school or go and get my Masters in Education.
Q: Do you attend other UMass athletic events?
A: I really like men's ice hockey and men's lacrosse. The games are so fun to watch.
Q: What do you do on your day off?
A: Sleep. Usually get back and gather all my homework. When you travel for a weekend you don't get that much done. During the season you're not as social, so I go out shopping. Just to get your mind of things.
Q: What do you want for your birthday?
A: Nothing really. An A-10 conference title would be nice, I haven't had that. That comes along with a nice watch. I could go for that watch.
Q: What's playing on your Ipod right now?
A: I still have a diskman. I listen to a lot of everything. I really like Dave Matthews, its usually playing while I study. Or a rap/ R&B mix, nothing too hard in any direction.