USA Field Hockey will be featuring weekly spotlights of U.S. U-21 Women's National Team members selected to represent Team USA at the women's Hockey Junior World Cup 2016 (JWC).
She has a habit of binge watching reality television including Keeping Up with the Kardashians. She is secretly very good at playing golf and enjoys the casual storm watching. She would like to study abroad to take advantage of the travel opportunity and says her grandma is one of her biggest supporters. Meet U.S. U-21 Women's National Team member Maddie Bacskai.
Growing up in a neighborhood with all boys and being sandwiched between two brothers, Maddie quickly developed a competitive nature. She was constantly competing in soccer, street hockey and tackle football. She has played just about every sport one can imagine, but she excelled the most in field hockey and golf. Golf started as a casual hobby and she would play with my brothers and dad. However, it came to be one of her main sports in high school as she competed in varsity matches each year and captained the team senior year. Despite her talent, the real golf superstar in her family is her older brother, Brendan, who is a sophomore on the golf team at Drexel University. Her younger brother, Sean, is a junior in high school and prefers football over golf. Both of her brothers are a crucial part of her support system along with her incredible parents. Her mom is her best friend and her dad is one of her biggest role models. Both have instilled the values of integrity and hard work into her daily life and she can’t thank them enough for all they’ve done and sacrificed.
Some other hobbies of Maddie's include traveling, storm watching and binge watching bad television. Field hockey has taken her to places all over the world, from China and New Zealand with her club team, to London with her high school team, and Europe and South America with the U.S. teams. Sport has given her an avenue to explore numerous cultures and she hopes that she'll have the opportunity to further her travels by participating in a study abroad or international internship in the future.
A slightly unusual hobby of her is storm watching during the summer. Her family has a beach house in Ocean City, N.J. and are currently transitioning to a new house in Stone Harbor, N.J. During her summers down at the shore, her and her family always look forward to the big storms and anticipate watching them outside on their porch. She also has a passion for bad, reality television shows. Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Bachelor are her two favorites. She think she gets this from her grandma who also shares a love for The Bachelor and graciously sends her text messages each Monday night reminding her that it is on. She also says he grandma is one of her biggest supporters and constantly goes out of her way to make her feel special.
Quick Facts about Maddie
Position: Defense
Hometown: Berwyn, Pa.
Joined Junior High Performance: 2015
High School: Episcopal Academy
Club Team: WC Eagles
College: Princeton University
Major: Undecided
International Playing Experience: 2016 Women's Junior Pan American Championship, 2015 U-17 USWNT Belgium Tour
Field Hockey Awards: High School: All-League, All-Delco, Pennsylvania All-Region, Episcopal Academy Bicentennial Class Field Hockey Award
Game Day Mantra: "Just play."
Best Words of Advice: "Do the simple things and do the simple things well."
Most Memorable Field Hockey Moment: Captaining her high school to an undefeated season her senior year
Hidden Talent: Can play golf
Favorite Vacation Sports: Naples, Fla. and the shore
Favorite Past Times: July 4th on the beach with her entire extended family
Favorite Pump-Up Song: Do My Thang by Miley Cyrus
Parents: Colleen & Ron Bacskai
Siblings: Brendan (19) & Sean (16)
Consider supporting the U.S U-21 Women's National Team as they prepare to wear the red, white and blue on the world stage November 23 - December 4, 2016 by donating to their Rally U.S. to the Cup campaign. All funds raised will be used to help supply coverage of travel, meals, medical treatment and more for the U-21 USWNT. Click here to donate. #rallyUStothecup #SQUAD
Photo Credit: Beverly Schaefer & Maddie Bacskai