Addison Chang ’25 | Ella Becket ’25
Senior Paige McMeekin’s passion for field hockey was sparked in first grade. Her mom, who also grew up playing hockey, introduced McMeekin to the sport, and she fell in love. She plays the forward position and says, “It is the offensive side, so it is really fun to work with your team to score goals.” She now plays for Mayhem, an extremely competitive club field hockey team.
McMeekin has been at EA for her entire life and has played for EA’s field hockey program since middle school, showing her dedication to the sport. Speaking about EA’s field hockey program, Paige says, “I enjoy our intensity, and our team is pretty close this year. It is fun to be with all our girls, and this program has been through a lot. This year is kind of a rebuilding year, and I think it will be good for our future.” Even as a senior graduating in the spring, she still cares about the team’s future.
McMeekin played varsity field hockey for the past three years of high school, which is extremely impressive since EA has such a competitive team. She hopes for an Inter-Ac win this year, and personally, she hopes to “end high school field hockey on a high note and stay positive throughout the whole year.” McMeekin wishes to set an excellent example for the younger girls. She states, “Previous captains motivated me by showing me how to be a leader by staying intense but supportive of the team. They showed me how to find a balance.”
McMeekin’s favorite moment from EA field hockey was winning the state championship as a sophomore. “We won it [the championship] 2-1 versus Hill, and we got to storm the field. It was really cool.” Fellow Senior Bella Notaro ’24 also recalls their Sophomore year: “Although there are a ton of memories with Paige, my favorite memory with her during hockey season is AIS day sophomore year. It was our first EA/AIS/Haverford weekend, and we were both so excited and nervous but we got to experience it together. I’ll always remember the bus ride over and then rushing the field after together!” McMeekin’s attitude and dedication clearly reflect on her friends and teammates.
McMeekin believes her selflessness sets her apart from others on the field. “I like to pass more than dribble, and I just like making other teammates look good and not thinking I can do everything by myself.” Head Coach Paul Zelenak explains that though Paige is very selfless, he believes her to be “very tough and a tenacious scorer for the team.” He also comments that McMeekin “is always first to the ball and plays tough defense.”
Her best quality on and off the field, she believes, is trying to “stay positive and set a good example for the younger girls” on the team. Coach Zelenak explains that “as a leader, Paige is very outward with her views on the team, and she is always looking to help and bring people together.” Teammate Arden Mankovich ’25 also commented that McMeekin is “really positive all over the field and picks up her teammates when they are down or make a mistake.”
Photo Courtesy of Heather McMeekin
She committed during the fall of 2022 to continue her academic and athletic career at Bucknell University. She explains why she chose Bucknell, saying, “My Dad went to Bucknell and played lacrosse there. I have always been interested in it. The second I got there the team culture was just amazing and I loved the coaches there. They just make everything so much fun.” Notaro adds, “Paige encourages her teammates with her attitude. Even if she is having a bad day, she never lets it show on the field during practice or games.”