UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Emma Spisak decided to try something different.
Until seventh grade, Spisak primarily played soccer. Though her mom and two sisters played field hockey and encouraged her to play, she was all in on soccer. But in middle school she made a change.
She tried playing field hockey.
"I fell in love with it right away," Spisak said. "Having my friends fall in love with it too made it even more special."
As she and her friends fell in love with field hockey, her mom was there to guide them, as she was the coach of the middle school team. The team ended up going undefeated and scoring more than 100 goals that season.
Spisak continued playing soccer through middle school but her passion for field hockey outgrew it.
"It all just clicked that year," Spisak said. "We loved it and we converted to field hockey ever since."
Spisak, a junior, has taken her passion for field hockey to Penn State, where she has played in 44 games, been named to the NFHCA National Academic squad twice and named a NFHCA Scholar of Distinction, with a 3.91 GPA. But, Spisak's journey is still unfolding.
After having success playing field hockey in middle school, Spisak was nervous about playing in high school.
She was a freshman at Boiling Springs high school in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania and competing for a spot on the team. Her mom was the coach at the school, so she knew about her ability. But Spisak wanted to compete for a role on the team.
"I was like 'Mom, I don't know if you're playing me just because, but I want to earn my spot'," Spisak said.
A few days into playing for the team, she proved herself on the field and earned a starting position.
That same season, she shared the field with one of her sisters, who she grew up playing with at the local turf field.
"We both agree that it was one of the best seasons we've had together," Spisak said. "We really fed off of each other."
During her freshman year, the team went to a team camp at James Madison, where it competed against the school's recruit team. Spisak and her teammates played well despite coming up short, 1-0.
At that camp, she started seriously thinking about playing field hockey past high school.
"I was like, 'This is something I want to pursue and I'd love to play in college,'" Spisak said.
In the summer after her sophomore year of high school, Spisak went to a lot of clinics and camps. One of the camps she attended that summer was Penn State's team camp.
She met Penn State head coach Char Morett-Curtiss at that camp and experienced what Penn State was like.
The camp was intense, as Spisak remembers breaking in her new turf shoes at the time and how hot it was. So hot, that the inside of her thumbs and pointer fingers got sunburned. However, she connected with Penn State.
"It was my first time visiting campus and it was very evident that I fell in love right away," Spisak said. "I was just hoping they felt the same."
Penn State did and she committed later that summer.
Spisak arrived at Penn State in 2017 and took summer classes prior to taking a full course load in the fall.
Academics have always been a priority for Spisak. Even before attending Penn State, she completed two college courses for credit while at Boiling Springs. But she had to adjust her time management skills in college.
High school is more structured than college and Spisak had to adapt. Fortunately, the college field hockey schedule gave her the balance she needed.
"I'm more structured in field hockey season because I have that schedule," Spisak said. "I know when I need to get things done."
Along with completing classes toward her degree in advertising/public relations, pursuing a Smeal College Business certificate and playing field hockey, the academic All-Big Ten member is also a part of the Athletic Director's Leadership Institute and the Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB).
With SAAB, Spisak meets with the board once a month to discuss the group's agenda and is a part of the special events group.
"We work hard on the field and just as hard or even harder in the classroom so I really pride myself on the academics," Spisak said.
Her passion for field hockey has stuck as well.
In three seasons at Penn State, she has made double-digit appearances each season, competed in the Big Ten tournament each year and played in a NCAA tournament game.
Each year, Spisak has worked on improving her skills and overall game. Whether she refined her stick skills and fitness after freshman year or developed her leadership skills after sophomore year, Spisak has continued to work to get better.
A lot of her improvement took place during summer workouts with teammates in State College.
"I really like working out with the team," Spisak said. "It's always fun to meet the new freshman and working out with the girls is motivating."
Motivation will be a key for Spisak as she heads into her final season.
Although Penn State fell one game short of winning the 2019 Big Ten Tournament, Spisak is hopeful moving forward because of the team's late-season.
"We were right there and I think it's just a great platform for what we're going to do next year," Spisak said.
Until then, Spisak hopes to pursue a law degree after college. Someone who knows her the best is one of the main reasons.
"My mom is the director of people services in our home school district and she always says how much she would utilize a law degree and I'd love to have it as a base to do many things," Spisak said.
