Introducing Sami Harvey

By Sheri Duff                                                                                                            Champlain Valley Union (CVU) head field hockey coach Kate McDonald described Sami Harvey, her senior tri-captain, in these glowing terms. “Sami is an intense field hockey player. She has been a starter since her sophomore year, after joining the varsity team midway through her freshman season. She is a hard worker who approaches the game with spirit and focus,” McDonald continued. “Sami has great field hockey skills and is an integral member of the team.”

A Shelburne native, Harvey’s family includes parents Beth and Todd, younger brother Ethan, a seventh grader at Shelburne Community School, and two cats named Greta and Nauset.

“My first sport was soccer,” Harvey recounted. “But it wasn’t my calling. In the sixth grade I switched to field hockey thanks to a cousin from Connecticut who inspired me to give the sport a try. I have been playing field hockey ever since.”

A 4-year varsity field hockey player, Harvey explains her strength as captain. “Because I have been on the varsity team the longest I have the most experience. My teammates look up to me and trust me and come to me for just about anything,” she shares. Coach McDonald not only agrees, she adds, “Sami encourages her teammates to succeed.” And they do. A 9-3-1 regular season record earned the team a No. 2 seed in the D-I state tournament. With a 2-1 win over Mount Mansfield and a 3-1 win over Rutland, the team has advanced to the title game for the first time since 2012.

Harvey’s greatest accomplishment occurred during that field hockey win two years ago. “My proudest moment was during a semifinal game against Mount Anthony my sophomore year. I scored the game winner that brought us to the state championship game,” Harvey explained. “Coach [MacDonald] was just about to sub me but instead she left me in. It was my first career goal.”

In addition to field hockey, Harvey takes a leadership role on the Athletic Leadership Council, and is an admitted health nut, yoga enthusiast, and runner. “Running has been a passion of mine throughout high school,” Harvey commented. “I have competed in several half marathons. I love to run.” Therefore it will probably come as no surprise that Harvey chose Crossfit, an intense core strength and conditioning program, for her Grad Challenge project. Developed to enhance an individual’s physical competency, CrossFit recognizes 10 fitness domains including cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy.

As for college, Harvey will apply to the University of Delaware, the University of Connecticut, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of Rhode Island to pursue her interest in nutrition. Those same universities offer her an opportunity to play club field hockey, another incentive to apply. Confident in her plans for next year, Harvey concluded, “It will all work out in the end.” Enough said.