Merion Mercy Academy’s Kolbe Keating is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The junior second-year center mid has been an all-around standout for the Golden Bears’ field hockey squad, as her hustling play on the offensive end makes her a top scorer, while she recovers well to be a key part of the team’s defensive unit as well. She is one of seven siblings to play field hockey at Merion Mercy, along with her mother. She is also a standout player for Philly Hockey.
Q: How do you view your leadership role as the team’s center mid?
A: I believe it’s my responsibility to distribute the ball to the forwards on attack as well as support the defense by always coming back, I try to act as a balance and connector between the two. I also think it is very important that I constantly communicate in an encouraging way with my teammates around me, so that we are always on the same page and playing as a unit.
Q: What was the most important thing your siblings taught you about field hockey?
A: I grew up on the sidelines of a hockey field, so they undoubtedly showed me skills and I had the opportunity to learn from watching many games. But I believe the most important thing that they taught me is to always have fun while I am playing, because that is when you are playing your best. When you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, you’re not giving 100 percent.
Q: You have an interesting first name. Can you tell us how/why your parents selected that name for you?
A: While my mom was pregnant with me she watched a documentary on Saint Maximilion Kolbe and was inspired by his story and believed he’d be a great saint to watch over our family.
Q: What (to you) has been the highlight of your Merion Mercy field hockey career? Can you share your most vivid memory of that experience with us?
A: I’d say the highlight of my Merion Mercy field hockey career is making it into the state tournament my freshman year. It was so memorable because we set out specifically in the beginning of the season to achieve that goal and we had that in the back of our heads every game and it was great when we finally achieved that goal.
Q: You wear No. 4 for Merion Mercy. Was there a reason you chose that number?
A: Yes, 4 is my lucky number! I try to get it in every single sport I play.
Q: What do you think is the strongest part of your game? What part of your game are you working the most on at the present time?
A: I believe the strongest part of my game is my speed and stamina. I am currently working on my 1 v 1 defense, and I am always looking to improve my stick work.
Q: Who have been your top field hockey mentors, and what has been the most important thing each of them taught you?
A: I believe my top field hockey mentors have been my club coaches, Rachael Bloemker and Rennie Milne. The most important thing that both of them have taught me is a better understanding of the game and they’ve helped me develop my decision making skills.
Q: What (to you) has been the highlight of your time with Philly Hockey? Can you share your most vivid memory of that experience with us?
A: The highlight of my time with Philly Hockey was winning our NIT Qualifier and getting into Pool B at the National Indoor Tournament. This was very memorable because as a relatively new club, my whole team was vey excited that we placed in such a high and competitive pool, and although we did not win, we competed very well in the pool finishing as one of the top teams.
Q: You want to play field hockey in college. What colleges are among your current favorites? What would you like to major in? Is there a career field that particularly interests you at the present time?
A: Harvard and Columbia are my favorite colleges, and where I’d love to continue my hockey career. I would like to major in psychology, I’m not sure as of right now what I want to do with that, but the subject is very interesting to me.
Q: Do you participate in any extracurricular activities at Merion Mercy outside of field hockey? What sparked your interest in these activities?
A: I participate in the Women for Life and Love Club, SpeakUp!, and the liturgical choir. There are many clubs and service opportunities at Merion, but these ones sparked my interest because I believe all of their missions are very important and close to my heart.
Kolbe Keating’s top picks
Book: The Book Thief.
Author: Markus Zu.
TV show: Modern Family.
Movie: The Hunger Games.
Pre-game pump-up song: Ain’t Nobody (Loves Me Better) — “or anything else techno.”
Athlete: Lebron James.
Historical figure: “Rosa Parks because she stood up for what she believed in.”
Team: Philadelphia Eagles.
Place to visit: El Conquistador, Puerto Rico.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
