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 (Photo courtesy of Skidmore College) caption:
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Former PDS Star Weber Using Her Time Well In Producing for Skidmore Field Hockey, Lax
By Bill Alden
Katie Weber has learned plenty about time management in her time at Skidmore College.
Juggling field hockey and lacrosse with her studies, the former Princeton Day School star typically puts in days that start around 8 a.m. and don't wind down until nearly midnight.
In order to make sure that she can fit everything in, Weber writes up a master schedule at the beginning of each semester that includes her practices, games, classes, exams, and papers.
Weber, a sophomore, has used her time wisely. As a freshman, she made an immediate impact for Division III Skidmore's field hockey team, scoring 15 goals and passing for five assists to help the Thoroughbreds go 17-4 and win the Liberty Conference crown.
Last spring, she scored 34 goals for the Skidmore women's lacrosse team to rank second on the squad in that category as the Thoroughbreds enjoyed a 10-6 campaign.
This fall, Weber has taken her game up a level in field hockey, scoring a team-high 11 goals and five assists to help Skidmore to a 6-4 start.
While Weber's transition to Skidmore may appear seamless, she initially had shied away from making the commitment required by competing at the college level.
"I had decided I wasn't going to play any sports at college," recalled Weber. "I thought I wasn't good enough and that it didn't fit into my plans. I decided to go to field hockey camp and give it a try. I thought I would probably miss it."
As it turned out, Weber's speed made her a natural fit for college field hockey which has evolved to the point where most games are played on artificial turf.
"Adjusting to playing on turf was the biggest difference between college and high school," said Weber, whose ability to fly past defenders like they were standing still made her an All-Prep player for PDS in both field hockey and lacrosse.
"It's a much faster game and it requires more complex stick skills. I think speed is always an asset. On turf, the ball moves faster than the player."
Her flying start in field hockey led Weber to make the decision to also give lacrosse a try. "I already had experience with college academics and college sports," explained Weber. "I knew some of the lacrosse players since some also played field hockey. I had a lot of friends on the team."
In adjusting to college lacrosse, the biggest hurdle for Weber was getting used to the skill level of her opponents.
"There is no one on defense that you can pick on," said Weber. "Everybody has great stick skills."
Weber credits Jill Thomas, her field hockey and lacrosse coach at PDS, with helping developing the work ethic that has allowed her to succeed on and off the field at Skidmore.
"I think Ms. Thomas was a strong influence," said Weber, who was a four-year starter in both field hockey and lacrosse at PDS.
"She taught me that if you don't have what you want just keep working hard and you'll get it. Don't give up on a ball just because it is inches away from you. Don't give up in a game if you are down in the last two minutes. It gave me the mental attitude and willingness to work hard."
Weber's current coach, Beth Hallenbeck, is impressed by Weber's work. "Katie is terrific, she has all the tools to be a top notch player at this level," asserted Hallenbeck, who coaches Weber in both field hockey and lacrosse.
"She is very skilled on the turf, it plays to her strengths. She has great ball control and she is very fast. She likes the clean, open game on the turf."
In Hallenback's view, lacrosse may actually be Weber's best sport. "As good as Katie is in field hockey, she may be better in lacrosse," maintained Hallenbeck.
"Her speed really shows up more in lacrosse. She has great stick skills. She was the league rookie of the year in lacrosse. I expect that she could achieve All-American recognition in both sports. She has dedication and toughness."
The unassuming Weber, however, is focused more on fulfilling her obligations to the team than any individual accolades.
"Obviously more is expected of you as a sophomore than as a freshman," said Weber, who had six teeth displaced when she got hit in the mouth with the ball in a recent game and has been playing through the pain in between visits to the dentist.
"We lost a lot of key seniors from last year's team and I think we are coming together. Everyone on our team is taking on more responsibility. Our team is looking strong for the next two years."
Especially with someone like Weber making the most of every waking moment.
