By Lauren Cullen
Managing Editor

Senior Anna Collins has always had a love for the game of field hockey. At the end of the summer, she is headed to Northeastern University to play in their Division I Field Hockey program.

Collins, who has played field hockey since sixth grade, played on the Freshman Field Hockey team her first year at WA, and said she kept working to be the best she could be.

“Each year I tried to make myself a  better player,” said Collins.

Collins’ work and dedication paid off when she made the varsity team her sophomore year. Field hockey coach Raeann Gembis said since her sophomore year, Collins has truly motivated herself to be the excel at the sport.

“During her sophomore year , Anna truly motivated herself to become a skilled player by working hard…mentally and physically,”  said Gembis.

Throughout her three seasons on varsity, Gembis said Collins has become a leader both on and off the field, as well as being elected captain of the team this past season.

“Her commitment to the team has been beneficial in creating a positive team unity,” Gembis said.  “She is a great role model.”

For many high school athletes that are looking to pursue sports in college, the process begins as early as sophomore year. But for Collins, she decided very late in her high school career

“It was definitely a very different process,” she said. “It wasn’t until the summer before my senior year that I realized [I wanted to play].”

Each summer, the WA field hockey team attends a summer camp at Bentley University run by Northeastern University’s field hockey team. This past summer, Collins was chosen to be on the camp’s all-star team, and got to play a ten minute game against the Northeastern team.

Collins did very well in the game, and after stopping one goal, she said she felt an adrenaline rush and ended up saving another two by the end of the match.

“The [Northeastern field hockey] coach came up to me after and told me I did really well, and after the camp, we began emailing back and forth,” said Collins. “That’s when the process really started.”

Gembis said she understands the long process for Collins to go through to apply to Northeastern for academics as well as athletics, but said she believes Collins’ decision will be a great fit for her.

Her determination made her into a true athlete, mentally and physically.

Raeann Gembis

Before she arrives at Northeastern, Collins has a lot of work to do. The Northeastern coach sent her a packet of workouts to do throughout the entire summer, excluding Mondays.

“It is a lot of work, but I know it will only save time in the long run. As soon as I get there, we can start playing and won’t have to worry about being conditioned,” she said.

Collins said that managing her time between schoolwork and her commitments with the field hockey team will not be a big adjustment because she has been balancing academics and sports through all of high school. She said she usually tends to do better in school when she is playing sports.

Although Collins is excited to play, she is nervous for the transition between living in Westford and living in Boston, but knows having friends on the team and getting acquainted at Northeastern well before classes start will help to ease her nerves.

“Without field hockey I would be lost,” she said. “I’m really excited to play.”

Due to Collins’ motivation and focus, Gembis said she knows Collins will be successful both academically and athletically at Northeastern.

“I know she will be successful… I have absolutely no doubt about that,” she said.