By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
Nina Angeli and Michigan State were well underway in the recruiting process.
Wyoming Area’s run to the school’s first District 2 title and first Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state championship game in Class A field hockey, however, appeared to help speed that process along.
After seeing a lot of each other in a season that extended deep into November, Angeli and the coaching staff at the Big Ten school were closer to agreeing on the junior forward playing there in the future. Angeli made that decision in mid-December, verbally committing to a continue her athletic and academic careers in East Lansing, Mich.
“I’ve been talking to Michigan State since June 15, but I do think it helped me a lot for the recruiting process because a lot of coaches came to our games to watch,” Angeli said. “Especially, the Michigan State coaches.
“They came to see all of us play and I think that did help.”
Angeli started taking steps in that direction much earlier.
“For most people involved in field hockey recruiting, we start very early,” Angeli said. “I started e-mailing coaches in eighth grade and even though you can’t talk to them for a while, it’s good to get your name out there, which is what I’ve been doing.”
Direct discussions with the coaches are allowed to begin June 15 prior to the field hockey player’s junior season.
“It all led up to June 15,” Angeli said. “That’s where it started. From there, I narrowed it down.”
Angeli talked to others and visited some schools on her own, but she made just one official recruiting visit, going to Michigan State Dec. 2.
“It’s very far from where we’re from,” Angeli said. “I feel like I wouldn’t have been able to make the decision to go there unless I went out to see it and learn more about it.
“I planned the visit with the coach. When I went out there, I just knew. They say, ‘when you know, you know’.”
Angeli said she knew that was the place she wanted to go to college, following senior teammate Bianca Pizano, who is already headed there.
The second-team Class A all-state selection by the Pennsylvania Field Hockey Coaches Association had 13 goals and tied for second on the team with eight assists. She is likely to major in kinesiology.
