UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Field hockey and academics go hand and hand when it comes to what is important to the players on the Penn State field hockey team. Anouk Knuvers, a freshman from the Netherlands, is a new face to the team this year and is also studying in the Smeal College of Business. The accomplishments didn't stop when Knuvers received her acceptance into Smeal and she also is now a part of the Sapphire Leadership program within the business school.
The Sapphire Leadership program adds to the student experience in the business school by providing leadership skills and professional development to help them succeed. The program only takes about 50 freshmen to be a part of the program for the next four years with multiple rounds within the application process. Knuvers is currently the only international student in the program and is absorbing all she can to help further develop her academic and professional career.
"Being in that small environment gives you the opportunity to learn more, ask more questions, get more information and get more personal attention," Knuvers said.
Learning these leadership skills will not only help her in her academics but also on the field. Knuvers came to the States to not only get a good education, but also continue to play the sport she loved, and Penn State offered her both. Knuvers started her recruiting process early as multiple universities were an option for her. Without ever visiting, she committed to Penn State because of the connection she felt with head coach Charlene Morett-Curtiss and the rest of the coaching staff.
"I still remember my conversations with Char. She was one of the only coaches that was also interested in my academics. I remember her saying that you are more than just an athlete and I want you to have a life besides your sport," Knuvers said. "They set up a meeting for me to talk to people from the business school. That showed me it's not just about field hockey here, it's really about the community. She also knew how far away I am and checked in on my parents and family a lot."
"She was a great student in high school and was very motivated to continue her academic journey in the U.S. We were impressed with her field hockey skills because she is a player that can play defensive midfielder and defensive back," Morett-Curtiss said. "We saw a lot of versatility in her and the positions we needed to fill at Penn State for the next couple of years were attractive to us," Morett-Curtiss said.
These past couple of months of living in the U.S., Knuvers has definitely learned new ways of doing things whether that be in school or her social life. It has been a big change to leave her family behind. She tries to keep in touch with her parents almost every day even with the time difference to keep her from getting home sick.
"It has been a roller coaster, like it goes too fast to get off. Before you know it, you're done with your first year and you want to go again...you need to get up to get down and you need to get down to get up again. I have my days where I get homesick, but FaceTime and Zoom has made things a lot easier," Knuvers said.
On top of learning and studying for her courses, Knuvers has been adapting to her new life here at Penn State and is enjoying all her new experiences on and off the field.
"I think the biggest shift for me was the language. Sometimes there are a lot of people talking to me at once while I'm still trying to understand," Knuvers said. "I think the first two weeks here was when I was lost because even some field hockey terms were different and even what my professors were saying in class."
"She has a very good sense of how the game is developing and I think when she got here, there was a very different culture shift for her. The Eruopean model is a lot about playing and games, which is ours too, but the U.S. model is very fitness-oriented, especially our program," Morett-Curtiss said.
Knuver coming in her freshman year and already proving to her teammates and coaches that she is committed to getting better every day will help her achieve her goals in her next three years. Morett-Curtiss believes she will be able to transition into new positions in the future, because of her skills and dedication.
"What I love seeing about Anouk is seeing her interactions with all of our players. She is an outgoing player and at times she gets a little quiet but then you will see her always laughing and talking to different players. I think she is really fitting in well here and has found her comfort level," Morett-Curtiss said.
Penn State started the 2021 fall season with six straight wins and proved their skills and determination in every game. Knuvers has felt the bond of every player on the team and thinks that is why they continue to succeed. Even with a couple losses, they have put it behind them and are looking ahead.
"I love my teammates. I love my coaches and the staff. they are all amazing people. I think that is what makes us so good this year, it's just the team," Knuvers said. "Even after we lost, we had two amazing practices and it didn't look like we lost at all. We are so competitive at practice, and the team chemistry is just amazing."
With only a couple more games left in their regular season and all of them being Big Ten match ups, Knuvers is looking forward to the Big Ten Tournament in hopes of making it far and winning it all.
"I am looking forward to that tournament because I really think we can do something great and I really believe this team can achieve big things this season," Knuvers said.