Sachem East alum Katie Trombetta is one of the best student-athletes in Sachem history and arguably the best field hockey player the school district has ever seen.
She just wrapped up her freshman season of college field hockey at the University of Michigan where the nationally ranked Wolverines lost to Northwestern in the Big 10 Tournament.
Her first season was an eye-opening experience and she’s fired up to progress in her career at one of the top athletic and academic institutions in the country.
From playing for the same college program her mom did, to experiencing college football Saturday at the Big House – even though the Wolverines are struggling on the gridiron right now – Trombetta has experienced a lot already since graduating high school.
Sachem Report caught up with her recently to talk about life at Michigan.
What was your “welcome to college field hockey moment?”
It was really when we were in Virginia beach for two weeks for pre-season because our field wasn’t done yet. We woke up every morning at 6 a.m., had practice, lunch, took a nap, practiced again, had dinner, and then had a film session. Two straight weeks of that. It was all field hockey, all the time. It became very overwhelming. The beginning was so hard because everything was a faster tempo. Everything was so advanced. Everyone was so high level and you have to keep up with it. That was a lot to handle.
Michigan opened the season in the Big 10/ACC Challenge at North Carolina. Playing against some of the best players in the country immediately must have been wild.
We played UNC first. I didn’t start, but I got in on defense a couple minutes into the game. I was defending someone, and the ball was shot right into my face. I couldn’t see out of my right eye. I go down, get back up, referees, coaches, trainer come sprinting over. I didn’t know it was bad at first, but based on everyone’s reaction I could tell it was bad. I got nine stitches right at the facility. That was probably the real “welcome to college” moment, getting hit in the face. ‘Welcome to college and you get stitches.’ I asked the doctors if I could play the next day. My parents needed to give the okay. I told them I was fine and played the next day against Wake Forest.
With a roster filled with All-American type talent, it’s hard to find playing time as a freshman. Michigan also had five fifth-year graduate students on its roster this season.
It was hard to break into the starting lineup. It just so happened one of the defenders wasn’t playing well, they threw me in and I stayed there. A majority of the season I played right mid and back center mid.
College sports bring out the true “bigger, stronger, faster” mentality of student-athletes. They’re all fast, and they can all out-play one another in any sport. How was it getting used to the speed and overall competition presented in practices and games?
I’m a player who assesses a situation to feel comfortable. I can’t be thrown in and be great right away and it showed. The first game I played you could tell I was nervous. I’m playing Olympians. Every game I played I got more and more used to it. By the end of season I felt no different than everyone else.
Assessing your growth on the field over the last few months, how would you say you faired?
For many younger players, your main position is taken by seniors and grad students. You don’t know what coaches are thinking, they can do anything at any moment. The biggest thing is to play any position and do my best. When you do get those chances, take advantage of it. In the Indiana game they threw me in at right midfield and I played well enough that by next game I actually started because of it.
Since your mom, Sagamore Principal Patti Trombetta, played at Michigan there must be some things around that remind of you her. Any good stories to share?
Our field hockey center just got redone and in each locker a plaque shows the person who had that number before. My mom had No. 28 and her name is inside my friend Casey [Ammermann’s] locker. On the top level of the field hockey center there is a viewing room for alumni, and my mom has gone in there, so she’s using her perks.
If you’re going away to college, you’d expect Michigan to be on the list of “destination schools,” ones that come with that massive college experience; sporting events in big stadiums, a great social life, strong academics and everything in between. How’s life in Michigan?
I love it here. Now it’s starting to get very Michigan like and it’s freezing and snowing. The school, the atmosphere, is everything I wanted. We were away for a lot of football games. Ice hockey and basketball are starting up and I have season tickets to both. Athletes get into a lot of free stuff, to football, basketball and ice hockey. There is literally always something to do. I’m never board.
The girls back at Sachem East had another strong run this year, your sister Cara included, of course. They won yet another Suffolk County and Long Island title. Did you follow them throughout the season?
Every game my sister had, my mom, dad and grandma texted me updates. There really is such a substance to the team, every line is filled with great players. I’m so happy for my sister to finally be Cara Trombetta, no longer compared to me and it’s finally her show.
So what’s on tap for your goal list now? What do you want to achieve in college field hockey and how can you make it happen?
College field hockey compared to high school is completely different. This is so much more involved. We have notebooks we’re taking notes in, presentations about the system we’re going to play. There is so much more to it than just playing. By learning it all, I’m completely elevating my level of play. I want to keep going forward and become what I was at Sachem. I want to be remembered here too.
-Told to Chris R. Vaccaro