By Anastasha Echavarri
Staff Writer

Senior Molly Klinka started off her freshman year on the varsity field hockey team and prepares to leave Westford Academy while she’s still on the field. With her incredible talent for the game as well as other many aspiring traits, one wonders how she became the person she is today.

Starting in the 3rd grade, Klinka joined her first basketball team, and ever since then has been involved in sports.

“Well my whole family is very athletic. I mean my brother plays sports and my younger sister plays sports as well and we like to be active and outside so it was a fun way to make new friends and to get to know people when we were younger,” said Klinka.

Klinka currently plays three sports throughout the year. Her coaches have noticed her raw talent and leadership-like qualities that although most seek, many of us lack. RaeAnn Gembis, coach of the Varsity Field Hockey team, points out Klinka’s star-like qualities.

“She had a lot of talent right from the beginning and was very mature on the field as a freshman. She really showed a lot of leadership skills and blended right in with upperclassmen and has been a strong player for us over the years both on and off the field,” said Gembis.

Klinka prefers to play offense in lacrosse but plays defensive in field hockey. Despite this, she has managed to score 18 goals in field hockey along with 14 assists—all made while she was in defense. However, Klinka states that she really has no specific goals each time she’s playing.

“I really just go out onto the field and give it my all the entire time and not have to come off the field having not done anything,” said Klinka.

Over the years, Klinka admits that she has changed in several ways. Several teachers and friends all acknowledge the level of maturity she has as well as her acceptance and kindness towards most everyone.

“Molly is a person with really high integrity that’s committed to whatever she does. She’s really honest with herself and with other people. She has high expectations for herself and her teammates and has a lot of people that respect her a great deal,” said Gembis.

Having spent so much time on the field, Klinka reflects back on the times in her sophomore year where her teams, both lacrosse and field hockey, have made it to different tournaments. In field hockey her team won a tournament and in lacrosse her team made it to the semi-finals—farther than her team has ever made it before.

The opportunities were made possible by the integrity, closeness, and strength of the teams, as well as the guidance from Gembis in field hockey.

“She’s pushed me to be a better field hockey player and to work hard and to always try your best and to do all you can and to look out for my teammates at the same time… I really have had more faith in myself because of her. She is quite a role model for me,” said Klinka.

Now as the year comes to a close, so does Klinka’s high school career. She’s made countless friends and connections with the school and looks back on the opportunities that the school has offered her.

“I’ve done a lot of growing up and have seen a lot of things… and I hope that WA has prepared me for what I am about to face both in and outside of college,” said Klinka.

Klinka leaves the school thinking of WA and those in it like a home and like a family. Deeply integrated into the heart of the school and especially the sports program, Molly is going to miss everyone but is ready and excited to go to Northeastern where she’ll be in the nursing program.

“Westford Academy has been a great support system. Everyone in school including the staff and guidance and the students are always people that you can count on. There’s always someone you can talk to if you need to. They’re always supporting you at the games and you know no matter what. When it all comes down to it—they’re going to be on your side, no matter what,” said Klinka.