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 loves vacationing in Hawaii, going to Hershey, Pa. with her family and she is one of the few that can touch her tongue to her nose. Growing up she always wanted to be a veterinarian but her aspirations have since changed. Meet U.S. U-21 Women's National Team member Julia Young.
Although field hockey is a big factor in Julia's life and she has been involved within the Junior High Performance program for 5 years, she enjoys numerous other things off of the pitch. An advantage of being on the U-21 USWNT is training at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pa. which is a 35 minute drive from her grandparents' house. She loves being able to spend the free time she has with her grandparents when the team isn't training, and it gives them something to look forward to as well. Most of her family lives in Pennsylvania, so being able to spend time up there is really valuable to her. She also wouldn't be able to see them as much without the trainings held in Lancaster, Pa.
When Julia is at school in North Carolina, she enjoys spending her free time watching Pretty Little Liars marathons on Netflix. She devotes 2 hours on Monday nights to the Bachelor/Bachelorette/Bachelor in Paradise shows. It has become a house tradition to spend time together on those nights and watch the shows together, and argue about which contestant they like the most. Unfortunately, her house at school does not allow pets, but she absolutely loves dogs, especially her sister's pitbull/beaglue mix, Tish. A little unknown fact is that growing up she always wanted to be a veterinarian. With that major not being offered at UNC, she changed her career aspirations from veterinarian to nurse and hopes to attend nursing school upon graduating.
Quick Facts about Julia
Position: Defense
Hometown: Yorktown, Va.
Joined Junior High Performance: 2011
High School: Grafton High School
Club Team: Focus Field Hockey
College: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Major: Exercise and Sports Science
International Playing Experience: U.S. U-17 Women's National Team Canada Tour & U.S. U-19 Women's National Team Holland Tour, Women's Junior Pan American Games
Field Hockey Awards: 2015 2nd Team All-America
Began Playing Field Hockey: 2004 (9 years)
Best Words of Advice: "Hold yourself to a high standard and don't stop raising the standard as you grow and get better."
Most Memorable Field Hockey Moment: Beating Tabb High School in the District Tournament because we never beat them before that day and we have since never beat them again
Hidden Talent: Touch tongue to nose
Favorite Vacation Sports: Hawaii
Favorite Past Times: Going to Hershey, Pa. with family
Favorite Pump-Up Song: Go Get It by T.I.
Parents: Amy and Ted Young
Sibling: Kaytlyn, 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. 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.
Photo Credit: UNC Athletic Communications & Julia Young