Global Talent Scored by App State Field Hockey
Changing teams within a sport is a very difficult task as players have to change up their playing style a bit and have to get comfortable with their coaches and teammates. However, moving from a different country to play the same sport elsewhere is a completely different experience. Micaela Dierdericks, a senior field hockey player at Appalachian State University, can relate to the issue of moving to America to play a college sport.
"Learning to adapt to a new type of coaching was definitely challenging," said Dierdericks, a native of Cape Town, South Africa. "Here in the States it's extremely structured," she added.
Dierdericks came to App State after having played a season at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Her skill level and accomplishments were appealing to Appalachian State Field Hockey's coaching staff. Dierdericks was top goal-scorer in 2013 for the Western Province U18's and made the All-Western Province squad as well. Her skill level and knowledge of the game made her a great fit for App State's team, but she did not get off to a flyer during her first season in the High Country.
The recruiting process for international field hockey players is very different than the American recruiting process. The timeline and methods used differ greatly, especially through the aspect of scouting.
"The US is very quick; internationally you're usually looking at them their senior year, maybe their junior year," said Meghan Dawson, Head Coach of App State Field Hockey. "Looking at videos and having their information on either an agency's website or something that they'll send you in emails," she noted about the recruiting process.
Despite the well-thought-out process of recruiting international players, Dierdericks still struggled to gel with her teammates early on during her first season as a Mountaineer, but she ended the year strong with 15 appearances and eight starting roles. She earned just six points for the teams with two goals and two assists.
Her second season was arguably one of Dierdericks best, as she started 12 out of 14 matches she appeared in, scored 5 goals, scored a winning goal and played her best match against a highly-ranked Carolina team. She scored a goal and recorded an assist against the Tar Heels.
Although her playing level being at its highest, Dierdericks has struggled with her mentality coming across as negative.
"The way I expressed my passion towards the sport was intense and was not seen as positive sometimes, which was not my intention," Dierdericks said. "I don't like losing and with my team here in the States, we had a losing season my entire career," she mentioned.
Although Dierdericks' time with App State Field Hockey hasn't been the most successful in terms of trophies, her teammates have provided her with the most valuable experience and life lessons she can take away with her after graduation.
"We try to involve them with not just the team, but with your family," said Taylor Cimbalist, a teammate of Micaela's, on how the team tries to grow closer with each other, especially through making their international teammates feel welcome. "We ask them questions about where they're from," Cimbalist added.
During her time at Appalachian, Dierdericks discovered that working in a team is an important life skill. Although the idea of a team-mentality differed from the individual mentality in South Africa, she could use her team-working skills to her advantage in her future.
"The most important lesson I've learned was learning to be patient in a teamwork setting," said Dierdericks. "We all have goals in life and sometimes we will never reach them, but we have to learn to be patient and manipulate the goal in order to gain small victories." she added.
Micaela Dierdericks will certainly never forget her time playing for Appalachian State Field Hockey. Her performances with the team improved greatly over the course of her college career. She has her coach and, more importantly, her teammates to thank for her development as a player and as person.
