Laura Hurff is a sophomore majoring in exercise science with a minor in psychology. She is also a member of the Syracuse University Division I field hockey team that just won a national championship. I sat down with Laura to talk about playing sports in college and how she balances academics and athletics.
Q. How did you decide SU was the right fit for you as an athlete and student?
I chose Syracuse because when I visited it honestly felt like home. I had a feeling that I was meant to be at Syracuse. It felt like the perfect size, the team was full of amazing people and still is, and I knew the coaching staff would help me develop into a player I had always dreamed of being. It was just home.
Q. What is a typical day like for you?
During season, a typical day consists of me going to class from 8 am- 2pm and then practice 2:30 to 6:30. Then I go home to shower, cook, and hopefully start homework before 9:00. I typically don’t go to bed until midnight most nights either because of homework or because I am seeing friends, as nighttime is my only real free time.
Q. What is your favorite thing about playing sports in college? What is your least favorite?
My favorite part is the atmosphere of competition and the family you get with it. Coming in as a freshman, I already had 20 or more people to call not only my teammates, but also my family. You just meet such a wide array of people through sports. I love that I can walk around campus and say hi to at least one or two people I know on my way to a class. My least favorite part is that most days I don’t have much time to relax.
Q. Do you see yourself playing field hockey after college?
My dream is to play on the national team and one day go to the Olympics. When I’m done playing competitively, I hope to pursue my physical therapy profession first, and then possibly be a high school or college coach. One of my other dreams is to set up a youth program in whatever state I end up living in.
Q. What has been your favorite memory at Syracuse?
So far, my favorite memory at Syracuse has been WINNING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
Q. After winning the national championship, what was the first thing you did?
First, I hugged all my teammates. Then I ran over to my mom–cried– and hugged her. I actually wear the number 14 because that’s the number my mom wore in college when her team won the first and only Division I women’s lacrosse championship at Delaware.
Q. If you could change anything about Syracuse athletics, what would it be?
I think it would be nice to have an athlete social or formal so that we can all meet one another. I also think the promotion for sports could be consistent. There is a big focus on football and basketball but we don’t get as many spectators. All of our sports teams are great and we would love to have more fans come out to support us.
Samantha Trombley ’18, is public relations and policy studies major. She is originally from Franklin, CT. Sam is a member of Hill Communications, the on-campus public relations firm. She is also a member of the Girl Code Movement, the women’s club lacrosse team, and the Kappa Alpha Theta women’s fraternity. In her free time she enjoys hiking, volunteering, traveling, and spending time with friends. More blogs from Samantha Trombley.
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