Shipley’s Ashleigh Gundy is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week

A freshman attack and center, Gundy led the Gators in scoring in their two contests down in Orlando, Fla. during spring break. She scored six goals and won four draw controls in an 11-6 win against Bullis (Md.), and tallied four goals in a close 11-10 loss to Holton Arms (Md.).

Main Line Media News: In your two games during school break in Orlando, Fla. (an 11-10 loss to Holton Arms and an 11-6 win over Bullis) you led the scoring in both games with four and six goals respectively. What do you think was the biggest key to your scoring success in those two games?

Ashleigh Gundy: The biggest key to success in the game was the draw control and the setup of midfield off the draw, because with the draw you have possession. The longer you have possession, the more opportunities you have to score. Other than that, setting up opportunities for the team and expanding space so that we can use the field to our advantage gives us more shots on goal. What helped me score in the game was something my coach, Katelyn Taylor, always tells us, which is to win the draw and always move my feet. I believe that this gave me more opportunities to be the open person on the field, thus take more shots on goal.

Main Line Media News: What (to you) was the highlight of the Orlando trip (both on and off the field)?

Ashleigh Gundy: The highlights of the Orlando trip were being able to be with the team, bonding and enjoying Florida. I improved my stick skills while training and learned new draw tricks and methods that would benefit me in different situations. I also enjoyed playing teams in Florida because it reminded me of playing when I go to lacrosse tournaments or camps that are not in PA with my club team. Off the field, I enjoyed going to the parks such as Hollywood studios, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Epcot. I especially enjoyed Epcot because of the food! I like different international cuisine, and Epcot provided different foods. I’ve been to Disney before but going back and seeing the parks again was a lot of fun.

Main Line Media News: You won four draw controls in the win against Bullis. What do you think was the biggest key in your winning those draw controls?

Ashleigh Gundy: In that game, the biggest key to winning those draws was deciding whether I should push or pull or go to myself. After feeling out who I was going against, I found pulling successful. Also, if I were going to myself, if they switched the player who took the draw, I would jump and go to the ball rather than waiting for it to come to me.

Main Line Media News: What do you think is the best part of your game, and what are you working on most currently?

Ashleigh Gundy: I think the best part of my game is how I see the field and taking the draw. I have played center, low attack and midfield. I have learned how to control the draw and have been improving those skills. Playing all three positions has given me a different perspective and enabled me to be a versatile player. I think I see the field well because in playing both defense and attack the transition is easier because playing low attack is all about how you transition the ball down the field and work the ball around. Currently I am working on my speed and trying to still improve my draw and stick skills. Coach Alli Gourniak has been helping me with my draw skills and technique.

Main Line Media News: What (to you) has been the highlight of your club lacrosse career?

Ashleigh Gundy: The highlight of my lacrosse career with Philadelphia STEPS would be the opportunity to play different teams in tournaments in different areas. Tournaments are one of the best things about the team because I get to play with a team that I love and have so much fun playing with. Playing with this team for the past three years has created relationships, which allow us to trust each other because we have such great chemistry.

Main Line Media News: Who have been your biggest lacrosse mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you?

Ashleigh Gundy: My lacrosse experience started in second grade and coach Cheryl Bruttomesso taught me all of the fundamentals of the game. Alyssa Dunlap, who was my head coach last summer for STEPS, helped me improve my stick skills and critique them. She pointed out my strengths, but always helped to improve my weaknesses. Alyssa always taught me how to play smart by instructing me to not go for the check by minimizing fouls, but for to go for the body to prevent turnovers. My Shipley high school coach Katelyn Taylor has emphasized quick transitions to prevent the opponent’s defense from setting up. Specifically, she taught me to “challenge, pull out, look center, and if it’s not there-don’t force.’ Lastly, my mother encouraged me to play the game originally, and continues to critique me on things such as going for ground balls, jumping high for the draw, and always reminding me to have fun. These mentors have taught me a lot; however, I am only a freshman and I know I have so much more to learn.

Main Line Media News: What is your favorite school subject(s) and why? Is there a career path that particularly interests you at the present time?

Ashleigh Gundy: My favorite subjects are math and Spanish. I enjoy math because it gives you the structure to solve complex problems, and Spanish because I really like to communicate with people. My teacher makes it fun because although it is an honors class, she still makes learning the course interesting and fun. I am very interested in communications at this point. I would love to be a TV host or a news anchor in the future.

Main Line Media News: Are you involved with any other extracurricular activities at Shipley other than lacrosse? What originally sparked your interest in these activities?

Ashleigh Gundy: I am also involved in field hockey, and a lot of service such as Bryn Mawr tutoring and Andrew Jackson School. I signed up for these to help other people, and I love working with and mentoring children. I like helping underprivileged children, and working with them because it feels better to help people. Also, I have a strong relationship with the children at the Andrew Jackson School. I also play field hockey because it’s similar to lacrosse and I wanted to play a sport that continues to help with my hand eye coordination and stick skills. I also participate in public speaking, and I was elected for one of the community life heads for the ninth grade at my school. I wanted to be a community life head because I love Shipley, and having been a part of the community since pre-k, I wanted to participate in guiding, improving, and being involved in all aspects of community life.

Ashleigh Gundy’s top picks

Favorite book: Fault in our stars.

Favorite author: John Green.

Favorite TV show: Scandal.

Favorite movie: This Christmas.

Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Started from the Bottom.

Favorite athlete: Serena Williams.

Person(s) I admire most: “My parents.’

Favorite team: Cleveland Cavaliers.

Favorite place to visit: The Caribbean islands and Martha’s Vineyard.

(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)