THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502170240
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 31 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
IT IS GOING TO BE HARD to top one of the most successful high school athletic careers in Beach District history.
Probably take becoming a doctor or lawyer to beat something like that.
But for Kirsty Hale, anything's possible and she is definitely headed in the right direction.
The Cox High field hockey standout is going to Princeton. And while she isn't really sure what she's going to major in, she has entertained the thought of pre-medicine.
``I want to go there because they have a great academic program,'' Hale said. ``And the hockey is good there. I went up in November and I really liked the place and I liked the coach a lot, too.
``Oh, gosh, I have been thinking about pre-med, but it's questionable.''
Something that isn't is the undoubted mutual feeling between Hale and Princeton - especially where the field hockey coach is concerned.
What's not to like?
The senior finished her three-year prep career with the Falcons as the second-leading career scorer in Virginia High School League history with 88 goals. She also is second in state history with goals in one season with 42 - finishing behind junior teammate Kim Miller in both categories.
And while a starting forward at Cox, Hale was part of a national record-setting team that culminated last season by winning six straight state titles and nine overall.
Falcons coach Nancy Fowlkes has called Hale the best all-around player she has ever coached. A lofty statement considering that Falcons alumni have played at some of the best Division I programs in the country - including national championship teams at ODU and James Madison.
For Hale, the decision is a relief, enabling her to get prepared for the upcoming soccer season and graduation. There also is much work to be done to prepare for next fall's new world of collegiate hockey, classes and campus life.
But it will all be more enjoyable now that she's made up her mind.
``Everything is a lot more fun now,'' Hale said. ``I'm really looking forward to soccer. I love the game. While I really didn't have as much pressure to choose a school as some players have, I'm glad it's over with.''
Hale had narrowed her choices to three schools - Princeton, Duke and Virginia. She chose the three mostly because of academics. Field hockey played a strong role, but it was secondary.
Virginia was her second choice, because sister Heather Hale has one more year to play there.
``The main attraction with Virginia was playing with Heather,'' she said. ``But I sort of wanted to do my own thing and not have to be in anybody's shadow. I'm very happy with my choice, but it really would have been nice to play on the same team with her.''
Princeton and Virginia met last fall, but aren't scheduled to play each other this coming season.
``It would have been nice to have played against her once also,'' Hale laughed.
For now, Hale is concentrating on the upcoming soccer season. She sat out basketball for the first year, realizing that she was mentally and physically exhausted from field hockey.
``I didn't want to play if I couldn't give 100 percent, and I knew I couldn't,'' she said. ``I didn't think it would be right for either me or the team. Now, I'm totally relaxed and ready for soccer.''
And the two-time all-district selection feels like the Falcons have a pretty good chance of going places in soccer this season.
``We've got some good returners back and some new talent and I'm looking forward to it,'' she said.
Hale admitted that soccer will also play a role in her preparation for her first year with the Princeton field hockey team. In addition to soccer practice, she is participating in the Futures Program for hockey with hopes of making one of the Junior Olympic teams. And there are summer assignments given to her by her new hockey coach.
``Heather will have similar ones for Virginia and we'll be able to do them together,'' she said. ``I want to be ready.''
As her high school athletic career comes closer and closer to ending, Hale admits to being somewhat saddened by it all.
``There were a lot of things to deal with when hockey was over,'' she said. ``This is the last practice, this is the last home game, this is the last game. It was all a very emotional time for me. After we won state, I was happy, but I was also kind of tired and depressed.
``There are so many things I'm going to miss - playing for Ms. Fowlkes, playing with the team. It's going to be hard. Hopefully, I'll be able to come back and watch a few games, and that will be difficult also.
``But it's been great.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff file photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Choosing a college - Princeton - is a relief for Kirsty Hale,
enabling her to prepare for the upcoming soccer season, high school
graduation and for next fall's new world of collegiate field
hockey.
by CNB