On Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, Central Bucks East seniors Emily Bullard, Kenzie Lever, Phia Mannino and Miranda Szymborski were recognized for committing to continue their field hockey careers at the collegiate level.
Emily Bullard – Penn State University (Field Hockey)
Major: Secondary Education
Final list of colleges: Penn State, Princeton
Reasons for choosing Penn State: “There was something about a Big 10 school just being so exciting, and there’s nothing quite like Penn State. I love the coaches – they’re absolutely fantastic.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in field hockey at the collegiate level? “I started playing goalie full time in eighth grade. When I hit ninth grade and I started varsity, I knew I had some potential. I was involved in club, and that was really nice because I feel like that’s where I was starting to see myself flourish as an athlete. Then making the U.S. National program, I was like – I can absolutely make it in this league. I was lucky enough to get coached by some of my college coaches in U.S. Camp, so I’m very fortunate for that.”
Coach Meghann Spratt says: “Having such a strong team, you always have a weakness somewhere, and often, your goalkeeper – it’s just not a popular position. To have her fill that position with the confidence and skill level, that just set the tone for our defense from the time she stepped on the field until the day she graduated. She is a demanding leader but in such a quiet, composed way that her teammates were very receptive to her. She demanded a lot of them but never that she was better than them. She was this composed leader, and that was one of her biggest strengths as well as her level of comfort in the cage.”
Michelle Finegan, Director of FSC Falcons, says, “I was lucky to have the opportunity to coach Emily, Phia and Kenz for a couple years of their high school and club careers, and I’m really excited that Emily and Phia can continue to be teammates at Penn State. I’m also excited for Kenz – she’s going to join Emma Donnelly at JMU. Both programs are obviously top Division 1 programs, and I think they’ll add to the programs and do well.”
About Emily:
Favorite food: Mac ‘n Cheese
Favorite TV show: Criminal Minds
Favorite artist: Meek Mill
Kenzie Lever – James Madison University (Field Hockey)
Major: Nursing
Final list of colleges: JMU, Drexel, St. Joe’s, UPenn
Reasons for choosing JMU: “The second I stepped on campus and met the coaches, I could just feel that it was a place I wanted to be, and I just think the intense field hockey program as well as having the major I want – it was the best fit for me.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in field hockey at the collegiate level? “I used to play soccer when I was younger. I played up until freshman year when I had to choose because of the seasons. Honestly, my entire life I thought I wanted to play soccer in college. My freshman year obviously I realized that I definitely wanted to play field hockey. I was very between the two for a while. I was big on soccer, and knowing the program here for field hockey was so good, I thought that would give me the best opportunity to play in college.”
Coach Meghann Spratt says: “Kenzie’s size and the amount of ground she can cover as an individual is incredible. I always had her at midfield leading up to our last year because she runs the field. She is probably one of the most physically fit players I’ve had in a long. She does not want to lose and will do anything it takes for the team. I’m looking to the three of them (Lever, Bullard & Mannino) eventually facing each other in the college world. They don’t know what’s in store, but it’s really cool.”
About Kenzie:
Favorite food: Pizza on cauliflower crust
Favorite TV show: Game of Thrones
Favorite music: Pop, Rap & Country
Phia Mannino – Penn State University (Field Hockey)
Major: Undecided possibly education
Final list of colleges: Penn State, Lafayette, Michigan
Reasons for choosing Penn State: “I was going there ever since I was little, and the campus has always felt comfortable and like home. My siblings both go there, my mom played (hockey) there, and I just love the school spirit and everything about it – the coaching staff and the team and the environment.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in field hockey at the collegiate level? “I actually wanted to play soccer in college until ninth grade when I started playing field hockey more competitively, and then I realized – it was something new, and I just liked it more and had more interest. I figured out I wanted to play in college by the end of freshman year.”
Coach Meghann Spratt says: “I’m lucky enough to have been her coach throughout her high school career, and ultimately, I never thought that would be the case since she was a big time soccer player. That was a big surprise, but to watch her grow on and off the field and to see her in a vulnerable position with upperclassmen and trying to prove herself and hold her own and then to finish off with the player she is, it was probably one of the coolest things for me as a coach as well as her mom.
“What makes Phia good is her grit and her unselfishness. She just wants to win. She puts everybody before herself in order to win. She’ll set up the winning play if that’s what it takes, and if no one wants to, she’ll be the first one to grab the ball and go. She never quits, she’s a little pain to all her opponents. Pure grit and desire are her two biggest attributes as well as her strength and speed.”
About Phia:
Favorite food: Bagels
Favorite TV show: The Vampire Diaries
Favorite music: Hip Hop/Rap
Miranda Szymborski – DeSales University (Field Hockey & Softball)
Major: Business
Final list of colleges: DeSales, Rider, Stevenson, Widener, Arcadia
Reasons for choosing DeSales: “I can play both sports I love – softball and field hockey. I also like the location so my family can see my play, and it’s close enough from home to be able to visit, but I’ll have that freedom of living on my own.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in sports at the collegiate level? “I couldn’t just choose one sport. It’s always been back and forth. My mom always coached me in field hockey and my dad coached me in softball. I could never choose when anybody asked me.”
Coach Meghann Spratt says: “When Miranda told me of her interest in playing field hockey and softball, I told her that takes a very special athlete to be able to juggle two sports with her academics. I’m super excited to see what her future holds in the classroom and on the field in both softball and field hockey.”
Michelle Finegan, Director of FSC Falcons, says: “Miranda is a very skilled, smooth midfielder that sees the field great. She steps up on defense, she has pretty block tackles. She wanted to go somewhere local and somewhere in Division 3, so picking DeSales was a really cool placement for her, and I’m really excited. I think she will do really well there, and the coaches are really fired up to have her.”
About Miranda:
Favorite food: Sushi
Favorite TV show: Gossip Girl
Favorite music: Rap or Hip Hop
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