Kate Beinkampen ’19: The Girls’ Athlete of the Month is field hockey player Maddie Rehak, Class of 2019. Rehak started playing field hockey in the first grade after being persuaded by one of her classmates that it would be a good way to spend time with friends. Now, Rehak is the starting center forward on EA’s varsity team.
Annie Rau ‘19 explains that Rehak’s success is due to “her willingness to always make the extra pass. She is a great teammate and brings intensity and skill to both practices and games.” All of Rehak’s teammates assert her role as a leader both on and off the field. “She puts one hundred percent into the game,” says Genevieve Becker ‘19. “She contributes to the team as a top scorer and by assisting a number of goals.” Lindsay Walling ‘19 adds that Rehak’s “positive energy and love for the game is contagious every day at practice.” Not only does she push her teammates, but part of her devotion to the sport is because of the challenge it presents.
Joining the team as a freshman, Rehak admits she was nervous, but quickly realized how much she was progressing as a player. “I have improved so much in my three years on the team, thanks to Coach Buggy and my seniors because they made me work for playing time.” Gina Buggy, Director of Athletics and field hockey coach explains, “She has a strong work ethic, is eager to improve, and takes constructive criticism well.”
Rehak says her fondest memory with the team was in 2015 when they “won PAISSA and the interac. We were undefeated and had so many amazing athletes to look up to.” In order to be successful in field hockey, Rehak believes that there must be a sense of camaraderie, stating that her progress is partially due to her teammates. Ally Marino ‘18 attests to this explaining, “She is not only very skilled individually, but she has a natural trust for her teammates.”
“I try to lead by example,” Rehak says. “I am not always the most vocal, but I always try to put the ball where it should be.” With the season shortly coming to a close, Rehak hopes to continue standing out as a top scorer and an integral part of the field hockey program. As Senior Captain, Molly Giles ‘18, expresses, “Maddie is a key player for our team not only for her field hockey skills, but because she creates an environment in both games and practices that encourages others o try their hardest. She is unselfish on the field and is a key component in our passing combinations, we are so lucky to have her on our team.”