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 twin brother and loves to road trip anywhere the car will go. She is musically talented and can play various instruments. Her cat accompanies her during Netflix binge sessions and is also lingering around when she makes ham sandwiches. Originally aspiring to be an Olympic soccer player and become a surgeon, her aspirations have changed to field hockey and potentially going on to graduate school for Occupational Therapy. Meet U.S. U-21 Women's National Team member Jenny Rizzo.
Jenny was originally born in Long Island, N.Y., roughly 5 minutes from the beach but she moved to the Sweetest Place on Earth, Hershey, Pa., when she was 9 years old. She has a twin brother, Jack, who is active in theater at Stevenson University in Maryland and an older sister, Ashley, who is studying finance at Christopher Newport University in Virginia Beach, Va. She also has a cat named Kitty who is her companion during Netflix binges and when making ham sandwiches.
Jenny enjoys vacationing at the lake with her family in the summer months and skiing with friends in the winter. While field hockey takes up a lot of her time, she still enjoys going out on her sailboat and exploring new places with her siblings.
This past spring, Jenny went on a road trip with her siblings, starting in Pennsylvania and traveling to the north east states and eventually finishing in Canada. They explored new states and visited national parks, which became a new found aspiration for her and she looks forward to the next trip she can take. The Rizzo kids drove the infamous “Mom Van” for their road trip which you can frequently see Jenny driving to and from trainings at Spooky Nook Sports (usually hauling her teammates with her).
At Penn State, Jenny is active in THON, the largest student run philanthropy in the world, and enjoys playing football and frisbee when not in class or on the field. She also really likes Chipotle trips with her teammates and sitting outside of Old Main for Penn State notorious sunsets. While cats are not allowed in the dorms, she is the proud owner of two fish who have just celebrated their 1st birthday this past August. Originally aspiring to be an Olympic soccer player and become a surgeon, her aspirations have changed to field hockey and potentially going on to graduate school for Occupational Therapy. She hopes to one day do mission work with her medical background and help people who can’t afford or receive healthcare.Quick Facts about Jenny
Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Hershey, Pa.
Joined Junior High Performance: 2015
High School: Hershey High School
Club Team: Alley Cats
College: Penn State University
Major: Bio Behavioral Health
International Playing Experience: 2016 Women's Junior Pan American Games, Tour to Holland with PSU
Field Hockey Awards: Started all 19 games as a true freshman, recorded 95 saves on the season, finished the season with a save percentage of .748 ranked No. 17 in the NCAA during 2015, recorded a season high 15 shots against Northwestern, notched a shutout against Temple in the home opener during a 2-0 win
Began Playing Field Hockey: 4th grade
Game Day Mantra: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't save."
Best Words of Advice: "Don't ever let anyone tell you you can't do something. Only you can decide what you're capable of."
Most Memorable Field Hockey Moment: Playing hockey against Dutch Club Teams and exploring The Netherlands with Penn State
Hockey Role Model: David Carter
Hidden Talent: Can play the ukulele, guitar, harmonica and bassoon
Favorite Vacation Sports: Road trip ANYWHERE
Favorite Past Times: Boating, frisbee, climbing trees
Favorite Pump-Up Song: Danza Kuduro by Don Omar
Parents: Joan and Jack Rizzo
Siblings: Jack, twin brother, and Ashley, older sister
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 or bid on one of the many items up for auction on their Winning Cause Auction website. Auction deadline is Saturday, October 29, 2016. 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: Craig Houtz & Jenny Rizzo