PURCELLVILLE, Va. — Loudoun Valley High School freshman varsity field hockey player Katie Clarke is certainly one of our local star athletes. All State 1st Team, All Region 1st Team and All Region Player of the Year are just some of her most recent achievements on the field. Off the field, she’s an A student who has aspired to be an epidemiologist (we need those!!) since 2nd grade.

We caught up with Katie for a quick check-in about the great sport of field hockey, what she’s learned as an athlete, and what she likes to do with her “down time.”

What are your personal goals within your sport/athletic dreams?

Katie Clarke: I’m excited to continue playing the next three years for Valley and with my club team, Metro Hockey Club. Eventually, I would like to play in college.

What is your biggest challenge in your sport, and what do you do to manage this challenge?

Clarke: The biggest challenge in the sport, especially in Loudoun County Is that field hockey is still new in terms of being a HS varsity sport. While it is growing, there are still many people who aren’t familiar with the game, and limited opportunities for learning and play. Hopefully, as our local high schools and athletes continue to succeed, field hockey can grow.

What was the best advice you were ever given?

Clarke: One of the best pieces of advice that I have been given is that work off the field is just as important as what is accomplished on the field. I train and condition outside of my club and school team to stay in shape and prevent injury. Watching high level games like college is also helpful as it improves the mental aspect of the game.

What do you love about your sport?

Clarke: I love the sport because of how much of it is mental. A large part of the game is working under pressure or thinking of combinations before the first pass is even made. Another part of the sport I love is playing with the same people for long enough that you can anticipate where each other are, making it easier to set up situations in our favor. When you really click with your teammates, it makes a huge difference.

Do you have a pregame ritual you follow?

Clarke: I don’t really have a pre-game routine, but if I have a really good game, I will take aspects of whatever I did before that game and try to repeat it prior to the next one. It could be something as simple as listening to the same song or playlist.

What do you like to do outside of your sport?

Clarke: Outside of hockey, I like to spend time with my friends. I also like to read or take photos. I like to work hard in school as well.

What has being a member of a team taught you?

Clarke: Being a member of a team has taught me how important it is to have trust in the people around me. In hockey, one has to be able to have faith in their teammates, as there cannot be success without each person doing their individual part. Being on teams has taught me to play with all kinds of athletes, with different personalities and backgrounds.

What is the best piece of advice you received from a coach or mentor?

Clarke: The best piece of advice I’ve ever received from a coach is that, during a game, if I make a mistake, like losing the ball, not to initially focus on how to prevent that next time. Instead, I was told to focus on what I could do in that moment to win it back. This advice helped me a lot to think more in the moment and less negatively if something doesn’t work out perfectly.

Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.

Clarke: Sometimes during games, I don’t take enough risks. I will have ideas or see a pass through the other team’s defense but am nervous to make a move if it could be unsuccessful or go wrong. I have overcome this fear by having more confidence in my team and myself, knowing that if the idea works, we will have success, and if it doesn’t, we are strong enough to recover and do our best with the outcome.

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