The Student News Site of Appalachian State University

The Appalachian

The Student News Site of Appalachian State University

The Appalachian

The Student News Site of Appalachian State University

The Appalachian

Newsletter Signup

Get our news delivered straight to your inbox every week.

* indicates required

Former App picked for national field hockey squad

ASU alum Nicole Morgan has been selected as a member of the USA field hockey squad. Morgan played three seasons with ASUs field hockey team before graduating in 2011. Photo Courtesy Meghan Gay

ASU alum Nicole Morgan has been selected as a member of the USA field hockey squad. Morgan played three seasons with ASU's field hockey team before graduating in 2011. Photo Courtesy Meghan GayFormer ASU student Nicole Morgan never expected to play field hockey again, following her graduation from Appalachian in 2011.

Morgan moved to Virginia Beach, Va. W where she decided to coach U-14 and U-16 field hockey teams.

However, when the opportunity to try out for the national indoor field hockey squad arose, Morgan decided to try although she said she thought her chances of making the team were slim.

Ten days later, on March 27, Morgan found out she had made the team.

“At first, I was shocked,” Morgan said. “One of my friends called and congratulated me and I didn’t know what she was talking about. I was at work, and I didn’t know how to react because I wasn’t expecting it. I was just really excited.”

In her excitement, Morgan immediately called her high school coach and her mom to tell them about her selection to the 2012-13 USA women’s indoor field hockey squad.

“They screamed and were really excited,” Morgan said. “My coach became speechless and my mom became mom and was trying to figure out how we could afford everything.”

“It helped me develop different skills, and it forced me to change my mentality toward playing the game at a higher level,” Morgan said.

Appalachian State head coach Brandi Alexander Kist said she believes Morgan has the ability to be very competitive at the national level.

“I think the skill development and team work being involved in a Division I program will help her be successful,” Alexander Kist said. “Nicole [Morgan] always had great quickness over short distances, fast hands and good stick work which will make her a very solid player for the indoor game.”

Ultimately, Morgan wants to make sure that the pressure of being a national athlete does not affect her play on the field.

“I just have been playing the way I was taught to play,” she said. “I just try to play my best and go out there and have fun. I want to be a role model for the girls that I coach and show them that if you work hard, you can make it to where you want to be.”

 

Story: CHASE ERICKSON, Intern Sports Reporter
Photo courtesy of Morgan Gay

Leave a Comment
Donate to The Appalachian
$1201
$5000
Contributed
Our Goal

We hope you appreciate this article! Before you move on, our student staff wanted to ask if you would consider supporting The Appalachian's award-winning journalism. We are celebrating our 90th anniversary of The Appalachian in 2024!

We receive funding from the university, which helps us to compensate our students for the work they do for The Appalachian. However, the bulk of our operational expenses — from printing and website hosting to training and entering our work into competitions — is dependent upon advertising revenue and donations. We cannot exist without the financial and educational support of our fellow departments on campus, our local and regional businesses, and donations of money and time from alumni, parents, subscribers and friends.

Our journalism is produced to serve the public interest, both on campus and within the community. From anywhere in the world, readers can access our paywall-free journalism, through our website, through our email newsletter, and through our social media channels. Our supporters help to keep us editorially independent, user-friendly, and accessible to everyone.

If you can, please consider supporting us with a financial gift from $10. We appreciate your consideration and support of student journalism at Appalachian State University. If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation, or if you would prefer to make a recurring monthly gift, please give to The Appalachian Student News Fund through the university here: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1727/cg20/form.aspx?sid=1727&gid=2&pgid=392&cid=1011&dids=418.15&bledit=1&sort=1.

Donate to The Appalachian
$1201
$5000
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (0)

All The Appalachian Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *