This summer, Del Val sophomore Grace Prouty represented our small, tight-knit community at the AAU field hockey Junior Olympic Games in Houston, Texas. Not only have her skills been highlighted in the field, but also in the classroom, with her being ranked sixth in her grade. A feat like this isn’t an easy accomplishment, making Prouty all the more unique.
“Playing in this tournament makes you look great for recruitment; it lets you compete at the college level, get coached by college coaches and gain insight,” Prouty said.
Not every player gets picked for such a prestigious tournament. They have to go through multiple days of multiple different recruitment camps. Through these camps, ran by Nexus, USA Field Hockey’s Olympic Development Pipeline (ODP) program, players are challenged to push their limits.
“The tournament helped me build my confidence as a player because, at the time, I was at a low point,” Prouty said. “The difference in my confidence between my freshman and sophomore seasons is significant.”
It doesn’t matter how trained a player is, all of them will reach a slump in their career at some point. These typically come from internal factors, such as a loss of confidence, performance anxiety or a player overworking themselves. Prouty shows how there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and perseverance is crucial.
“Grace stands out as a leader every single day in practice,” Del Val’s varsity field hockey Head Coach Stephanie Rifflard said. “One of the most impressive things about her is her willingness to help younger or less experienced players. She never carries herself like a ‘hot shot’—instead, she remains humble and approachable, always taking the time to share her knowledge and skills with her teammates…Grace leads not just by example, but through her actions and communication, helping others improve while building a stronger, more cohesive group.”
Even as an underclassmen, Prouty has shown qualities of a leader for the team, foreshadowing a bright future ahead of her. Between her perseverance, focus and determination, players from any sport can take inspiration from how she motivates her team.
“My biggest influence and supporter has been my sister Maggie; she always pushes me to reach the potential that she knows I have, reminding me that I’m better than I think I am,” Prouty said. “When I look to her in game, I hope I look like that when I play.”
Having a good support system and a role model helps to inspire athletes and students; it sets goals to reach and a reason to continue performing well.
“It [field hockey] helps to distract me from everything else, get anger out and focus on one thing at a time,” Prouty said. “When I’m not playing field hockey, I feel like I’m missing something.”
Playing sports help students’ overall well-being: manage stress levels, strengthen muscles and improve self-confidence. These factors not only help athletes, but also students in the classroom. No matter the level of a sport a student-athlete plays, it’s important to manage the ‘student’ component with the ‘athlete.’
“It’s hard to balance the demands of athletics and academics, however it’s manageable because I have a great support system at home,” Prouty said. “Both my parents do a lot for me; if I don’t reach my personal standards, they’ll always be there to help me reach them.”
Prouty’s family and coaches aren’t the only ones impressed by her hard work. Her teachers are quick to celebrate her accomplishments in the classroom as well.
“Grace is intrinsically motivated,” C.J. Inglin, Del Val biology teacher and teacher of Prouty, said. “She takes ownership of her learning and rarely needs encouragement to accomplish her work or exceed expectations.”
Prouty serves as a role model to other student-athletes, showing the importance of balancing both athletic and academic demand.
She is always willing to lend a hand to help her teammates and her peers.
“She [Prouty] is collaborative and supportive,” another Del Val biology teacher and teacher of Prouty said. “She often takes the initiative to include others in discussions. She listens closely, values different viewpoints and helps improve group work by keeping her classmates focused and engaged.”
The drive that Prouty has shows her discipline and dedication to succeeding.
“I ultimately want to play Division I field hockey at a school that is also competitive academically,” Prouty said.
Now is the prime time for her to build up her experience for college recruitments. The recruitment process takes hard work, time and dedication, especially if a player wants to join a high-level team like Division I.
“If you’re younger and feeling burnt out, remember that your career’s success is not going to look constant,” Prouty said. “There are going to be ups and downs along the way.”
This article was updated on Sept. 15, 2025 at 10:20 p.m.
