It was a blazing hot summer day, sweat was dripping off the athletes as they played on the turf. Hannah Gavle was waiting for her soccer game to start but as she was waiting, something caught her attention. She glazed over the soccer game and moved onto a game that seemed to be going on across from her: a field hockey game. She was intrigued and engrossed by the sport being played, she could not take her eyes off of it. Gavle’s attention sliced back onto the soccer game she had been waiting for and raced onto the field. However, her eyes could not help but to drift off to the field hockey being played, distracting her even more.

Who would have known that would have caused the spark for senior Hannah Gavle? The spark to try field hockey, and to try out for the school team. If the game had only started a few minutes earlier, she would have never seen that field hockey  game and would have never even thought of playing the sport.

“After that soccer game I signed up to the summer camp that they had in the summer and I just tried it out and then I decided that I liked it so then I signed up for field hockey freshman year and that was it,” Gavle said.

Freshman year was the first time Gavle picked up a stick, but that did not stop her; she continued to play field hockey throughout her high school career. She devoted her time to summer camps and practices during the off-season to help herself improve.

“Hannah is every coach’s dream,” said Kevin Hausch, one of the field hockey coaches. “She is usually the first at practice and the last to leave. She works on her skills outside of our practice time and it is evident in her passion and the way she plays.”

Having played other sports such as basketball, soccer, and softball has helped Gavle succeed in becoming one of the best field hockey players this year. From this prior knowledge of sports, she knew what it took to make an excellent player; it takes determination, strength, skills. All these aspects were checked off for Gavle, leaving her with only a matter of time before she became one of the best athletes in the state.

“Hannah is an extremely gifted athlete,” Hausch said.“She excels in softball, basketball, and field hockey. I have watched her play all three sports. So, when she started playing for me it was obvious that she was going to be great. Each year you could see her improve. She played with the U.S. Olympic development program “Futures,” which really helped her improve. She is now easily one of the best players in the state.”

With such high-quality talent and character oozing out of Gavle, her teammates cannot help but not only appreciate her as a skilled player but also as a core rock for the team.

“Hannah brings enthusiasm and energy to the sport and is always able to pump up the team when we’re down,” said Emily Laage, a senior on the Field hockey team. “Every single person on the team loves Hannah not just for her skill but for her leadership capabilities and sense of humor.”

Caitlin Murphy, Gavle’s close friend and teammate, shared about how much of an impact she made on the team not only guiding the way to semifinals for states and helping the team gain record score of 15-1-3 but being the team’s leader and caretaker.

“Hannah brings leadership, encouragement, and intensity to the team, which helps our Forest Hills Field Hockey team to really feel like a family,” Murphy said. “She can pick anyone up when they’re having an off day and knows how to challenge others to do their best. With her being a captain, all of us looked up to her for advice and inspiration.”

Who would have known that one simple soccer game being anticipated to start would change Gavle’s high school athletic career by opening more doors and taking chances?

“Hannah is a true athlete,” said Andrea Shaner, one of the field hockey coaches. “From the first time I met her, I knew she was going to be an essential part of the team.”