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 enjoys reading on the beach and online shopping, though she never actually buys anything she just fills her shopping cart. She is an American Horror Story fan and a self-proclaimed talented hair braider. She's from a large family of six and grew up by the motto all-or-nothing. Meet U.S. U-21 Women's National Team member Julianna Tornetta.
Julianna just turned 17 years old in September and goes to Agnes Irwin School, which she has attend since her freshman year. She enjoys reading, especially on the beach, and online shopping a ton though she never actually buys anything. She likes hanging out with her friends, listening to music and binge watching Netflix and other movies or TV shows. Right now she is currently finishing watching House, and also has decided to spend some time rewatching her middle school obsession show, Gossip Girl. She also keeps up with the latest episodes of American Horror Story.
With flowing locks of her own, Julianna likes to think she is a talented hair braider, which is definitely something that is helpful in the sport of field hockey. She hopes to travel the world one day, especially to most of Europe and Australia either while in a study program or with her family.
She is from a large six-person family that includes her parents, Paul and Sherry, older sisters, Olivia and Sophia and a younger brother, Andrew. She grew up with her sisters in a sort of all-or-nothing fashion. What that means is that there were, and still are, times where they would literally tackle each other to the ground over a t-shirt (or sometimes a hairbrush) while at other times they are best friends. With that being said, it is safe to say that she has learned how to take a punch (or scratch in most cases) and fight back. As far as her sibling rivalry goes, she said she owes her entire field hockey career to both her sisters. Olivia and Sophia first started playing in middle school, and she just so happened to follow in their footsteps. Although Olivia is a senior at the University of Miami (Ohio) and doesn't play anymore, she enjoyed playing during high school at Agnes Irwin and for X-Calibur Field Hockey Club. Sophia is currently a sophomore at Princeton University and on the field hockey team (and also part of the JWC squad!). Her brother Andrew enjoys playing on his high school's golf team, as well as baseball and basketball.
Julianna's parents and grandparents are my biggest supporters. She can’t think back to a single game where she didn't look over at the sideline and see at least one of them cheering her on (or yelling at her depending on the game). She couldn’t be more thankful for all of the incredible opportunities, criticisms, love and support that they’ve shared with her over the past few years.
Quick Facts about Julianna
Position: Midfield
Hometown: Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
Joined Junior High Performance: 2015
High School: The Agnes Irwin School
Club Team: Princeton FHC
College: Committed to Princeton University
International Playing Experience: 2013 Women’s Junior Pan American Championship, 2016 Women's Junior Pan American Championship, 2015 U-19 USWNT Belgium Tour
Field Hockey Awards: All-League, All-Delco, All- Mainline, Philadelphia Inquirer 2015 player of the year, All-American 2015, Pennsylvania All-Region
Began Playing Field Hockey: 5th grade
Best Words of Advice: “Do you want to? Are you able to? Do you dare to? If the answer is yes, then do it already."
Game Day Mantra: "You can do it!"
Most Memorable Field Hockey Moment: When her high school team made it to the PIASSA state championship game for the first time in more than 20 years last year
Hockey Role Model: Naomi Van As
Hidden Talent: Braid Hair & Say the Alphabet Backwards
Favorite Vacation Sports: Avalon, N.J.
Favorite Past Times: Tanning & reading on the beach in the summer
Favorite Pump-U Song: Bricks by Carnage
Parents: Paul & Sherry Tornetta
Siblings: Olivia (21), Sophia (19), Andrew (15)
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: Julianna Tornetta