Six student athletes from the Germantown Academy (GA) field hockey program were recently recognized by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) for their in school achievements. The athletes who were inducted into the NFHCA National Academic Squad program were juniors and seniors who maintained a Grade-Point-Average (GPA) of 3.50 or higher throughout the 1st semester.
The award highlights student-athletes who demonstrate excellence both on the field and off. For many players, balancing the demands of school and sports requires discipline, time-management and support from the school community.
“While in season, it can be challenging at times to balance academics. I found that using my free periods effectively and checking in with teachers if I could use some extra help is beneficial,” Junior Field Hockey Captain Cece Durkin ‘27 said.
Junior Genevieve Gajan ‘27 shared a similar experience, saying that maintaining a schedule helped her manage long days full of school and practice.
“The most important thing in a busy schedule is time management,” Gajan said. “Having to commit myself to 15 hours of school field hockey along with four hours of club hockey taught me to schedule specific times to get work done.”
Although balancing both responsibilities can be difficult, the experience enhances students’ time at GA. Athletes saw that participating in sports while maintaining strong academics pushes them to grow in multiple areas of their lives.
“Committing to academics and sports has affected my experience at GA in a positive way,” Durkin said. “I think that it is very important to push yourself athletically as well as academically. It also has helped me balance different parts of my life and shaped who I am.”
Being a part of the field hockey team has also allowed students to create connections and build friendships.
“I feel it affected my experience in the best way possible. I made stronger connections on the team and playing a sport I love, while having fun, made the start to my year more motivated and better.” Garjan said.
At GA, student-athletes are encouraged to strive for excellence both in the classroom and on the field. The school’s supportive environment plays a key role in helping students achieve this balance.
“GA is a very supportive place and encourages me to be my best self on the field and in the classroom,” Durkin said.
Gajan also says, “Academically, my teachers were very lenient with missing class and helping me make up work. Athletically, knowing my limits and communicating with my coaches about it set limits of commitment to the sport, and I occasionally left early or missed practice to do homework, which my coaches supported.”
Field hockey, in particular, for these students, has had a meaningful impact on these students’ school experience.
“Field Hockey for GA has brought me many of my best friends and memories and has positively impacted my school life,” Durkin said.
“I have made genuine connections with people I wouldn’t interact with if we never did field hockey together,” Gajan said. “Across grades and interests, I have made long-standing friendships that make playing field hockey at GA even more enjoyable.”
Like many student-athletes, managing time during the season can sometimes be challenging, but at the same time, it highlights the support they have along the way.
“The most difficult thing was staying motivated to do work after a seven-hour school day and 2.5-hour practice,” Gajan said. “It was really difficult to create a consistent pattern to stay motivated, but support from teachers, coaches and teammates made it less stressful.”
For these athletes, success isn’t just measured in wins on the field, but also in their achievements in the classroom.