Playing two sports for a college is something that does not happen often, but for junior Kassidy Carmichael, it has always been her dream. So when the opportunity presented itself for her to play Division 1 hockey and lacrosse for Ohio State, she grabbed it.
For Carmichael, hockey has been her entire life. She has been playing it since she was three years old, but what she loves most about it is the competitiveness, team aspect, and the friendships that she has made from it.
“On the ice [my teammates] will always help me, and even on the bench.” Carmichael said. “The support is just unreal here.”
During this season, she is attending the North American Hockey Academy (NAHA) where she plays until around April, before coming back to WA for the lacrosse season.
“I’ve been in the hockey world my whole life,” Carmichael said. “Especially at NAHA, I’m living with my team right now, and I feel like it’s a whole different world. At WA some people play hockey, but at NAHA, everybody’s goal is to play hockey in college.”
Over this past summer, Carmichael made the USA National U18 team. However, there is one more tryout at the end of October before the final team is announced.
Though lacrosse has always seemed like a secondary sport for Carmichael, she loves her teams and the environment created.
“We’re all super close for [my] club team and the same for WA, and I just love the sport too. I love how it’s a team sport,” Carmichael said.
Having offers from other great schools such as Pennsylvania State and Boston College made her decision difficult, however when Carmichael stepped onto Ohio State’s campus, she just had a feeling that it was the right fit for her.
“The campus was very nice. I know it’s basically in the middle of the city, but when you’re on campus it doesn’t feel like you’re in the middle of the city. It feels like a country campus almost,” Carmichael said. “And all the athletics are in one spot so I’m not going to be going from one corner of the campus to [another] corner.”
Without the support of her coaches or teammates, Carmichael believes that she would not be where she is.
“I can’t even express how much support they’ve given me.” Carmichael said. “I just wouldn’t have been able to do this without them. […] All my coaches have been super supportive and are role models [for me].”
Carmichael is excited for this next chapter in her life, not only to see how she can improve herself as an athlete but also the freedom that college offers.
“I’m definitely looking forward to the team and seeing where we go and where I go personally in lacrosse and hockey,” Carmichael said. “And I’m looking forward to getting better because the resources they have at that school is insane. I’m excited for everything about college.”
