Oct. 16, 2007
By Keith Hejna, Penn State Athletic Communications Student Assistant
Three decades ago, Charlene Morett and Sue Purvis were teammates on Penn State's successful field hockey team. Today, Morett is the coach and Purvis' daughter Jenny, 18, plays for her.
Penn State field hockey has always been family-oriented. Several players' relatives have followed their ancestor's footsteps through the program.
Jenny had several footsteps to follow, and they all led to the same place: Penn State. Her mother, grandfather, two aunts, two uncles and three cousins attended the university.
"I was always one of those kids dressed up in a Penn State cheerleading outfit," she said.
Jenny frequently attended Penn State football games with her family throughout her childhood. With those fond memories fresh in her mind, it was a no-brainer when it came time to choose a college.
With her mother and aunt, who is a professor at Penn State, being alumni of the university and of the field hockey program, Jenny had a strong connection to the team before committing.
"She's a very hard worker, as was her mother," Morett said. "I see a side of Sue in Jenny."
The transition from Hatboro-Horsham High School, where she was an Academic All-American amongst a plethora of other decorations, to Penn State was made much easier by the upperclassmen.
"They are willing to have us over and show us around," she said. "It really is a family thing. The freshmen are like my sisters and the upperclassmen are like older siblings."
This season, two players, Brooke Hoffsmith and Laura Cahill - both sophomores - have had older siblings play for the team before them.
Last season, Brooke was on the team with her sister, Erica. Erica - now a personal trainer in State College -played an important role in Brooke's decision to come to Penn State and play field hockey.
"Having her here was like having my mom here," Brooke said. "If I ever had any problems, she would be the person I'd go to."
The Hoffsmith sisters never let their bloodline impede their performance. "It wasn't like she was my sister during practice," Brooke said. "She was my teammate."
Though a sister-sister relationship on an athletic team could potentially be a recipe for trouble, Morett never saw any. "Erica was a great inspiration to Brooke," she said, referring to her perseverance through injuries and incredible work ethic. Brooke, who Morett says has tremendous talent, used her familial relationship to learn how to become a better player and teammate.
While in Palmyra High School, Brooke played the role of impressionable little sister, traveling to Penn State to watch her big sister and future teammate play.
"[Going to Erica's games] had a huge impact because I was always around the team and I knew them very well," said Brooke.
Laura Cahill sat in those same bleachers, watched the same team and dreamed the same dreams of one day playing for Penn State that Brooke did. She fell in love with the program from the first time she came to watch her sister Sara play.
"I knew by just watching that it was something that I wanted to do one day," Laura said. "I loved watching them play; I loved the energy of the team; I loved Char because she's so passionate about it."
Sara Cahill played field hockey for this loving family from 2002-06 and was a vital factor in Laura's decision to follow her.
"She's one of my best friends," Laura said. "My whole family is really close."
By "family," she may as well be referring to her team.
"They really are my family," she said. "We do everything together on and off the field."
Ranging from team dinners, to Grey's Anatomy viewings, their time spent together goes way beyond field hockey.
"[My teammates] are always there for me in every aspect like school, guys, field hockey. It's like having 20 best friends," Brooke said.
The relationships made on the field do not end after graduation. Morett and her staff of assistant coaches - Lisa Bervinchak-Love, Annie Zinkavich and Sharon Kuntz-Herlocher - all played field hockey for Penn State. "We just have such a strong emotional tie, not only to the university, but to the program as well," Morett said.
Whether friends, sisters, teammates or coaches, they function together as a team - as a family. When one hurts, they all hurt. When one does well, they attribute it to the team.
"The pride that everyone has, it's contagious," said Laura. "Char puts such a big emphasis on this program. Individually we reflect the group."
That group changes each year, as upperclassmen move on and underclassmen fill their roles as leaders. Within the new class of incoming freshmen, there is bound to be one who has waited years to step on the field as a player, not just as a little sister.
"It's always a proud moment to put on the Penn State uniform," Morett said. "There are so many kids that come up, and I hope will come [to our next game - Senior Day] to see us play and want to be a part of our program."
One of the faces in the crowd will be Jenny's 14-year-old sister, Lauren Purvis, whom Morett said came to camp and comes to watch her sister play.
"It's my true dream to have her here playing with me," Jenny said. "I would love to have her come here."
Maybe one day, she will continue the tradition.