Spring-Ford’s Brennan chooses Wake Forest
Taylor Brennan started every field hockey game during her four-year career at Spring-Ford Area High School.
She played a vital role as a defensive player for the Rams, who captured the Pioneer Athletic Conference championship with an undefeated season in 2012.
Brennan caught the eye of the Spring-Ford coaches as well as other field hockey coaches throughout the area. Beyond that exposure, Brennan has also been impressive during performances at the club level for X-Calibur and Viper teams as well as at national festivals and showcases each year as part of Futures (2010-14).
All of that excellence has enabled Brennan to land a Division I scholarship to attend Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., to continue her academic and athletic careers in field hockey. She plans to major in political science with a long-range goal of attending law school after she earns her undergraduate degree.
“The academics and athletics were my factors,’ said Brennan, the daughter of Beth and Drew Brennan of Royersford. “I knew when I stepped on the campus that I fell in love with it. I am going to get a phenomenal education at a top-tier school.’
Brennan considered many other schools, especially in the warmer climates down south. She knew she wanted to play in that section of the country. Also, she will be competing in the highly-respected Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Brennan has been focusing on the defensive side of the game ever since she started playing field hockey at age 5. Her first experience came at the Audubon YMCA. She continued her development as she got older and capped it off with her stellar past four years while playing under coach Jennie (Moore) Anderson at Spring-Ford. Anderson is the former Phoenixville Area High School and Ursinus College star in field hockey and softball.
“I knew Jennie for a longer time,’ said Brennan. “She was a coach at a club I formerly played for. She’s been instructive and helpful with the process. She helped me learn the ropes and helped me with schools. She helped me on and off the field and to become a leader as well.’
At Wake Forest, Brennan will be playing for coach Jen Averil. Brennan made up her mind midway through her junior year in October.
“I went to a camp at Wake Forest the summer before my junior year,’ said Brennan. “I participated in tournaments and at a festival in Florida with players from a large part of the country. But mainly, it was the exposure I got when I was at the camp.’
Brennan discovered Wake Forest on her own. But she will be joined on campus there by another PAC-10 star, Methacton midfielder Brittany Dickinson.
Brennan was one of the bright spots for a Spring-Ford squad that finished with a 3-9-1 record in the PAC-10 Liberty Division and 4-13-1 overall during the 2014 season.
