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Stories of GRIT: Paige Dibiase Commits to Amherst
2021 Chatham High School Midfielder
Perfect Balance/Fit
During the recruiting process Paige Dibiase looked for an academically competitive environment along with a strong field hockey program. Amherst College matched all of these criterias. “I chose Amherst College because it was one of my top choices academically. What appealed to me most was the academic rigour along with the really beautiful campus and downtown. In addition to all of this, I saw they had a really strong field hockey program.”
As for Dibiase’s relationship and feel for the team culture, Dibiase feels confident her coaches and teammates are exactly what she is looking for in a program. “What really stood out to me was the close knit bond between the girls on the team and the emphasis on putting academics first.” After the emails with coaches and Zoom meetings with the whole team Dibiase had an opportunity to talk candidly with one of the seniors. “We talked about her experience at Amherst. I remember her telling me about how much fun she had on the team and how much she had grown as a player on and off the field through the program.”
Dibiase will be going into her freshman year with an undecided major and wants to take advantage of the competitive academic environment. “I want to eventually pursue something with psychology or forensic psychology and possibly double major in fine arts.”
Process
Dibiase was motivated and dedicated throughout the entire recruiting process. “I prepared for the recruiting season by conditioning and participating in many clinics, along with practicing on my own time at my town’s local fields.” This consistent preparation provided Dibiase with the skills and training to feel confident when reaching out to and communicating with colleges. “Attending the many tournaments and play-days at specific schools helped me to get the exposure and film that I needed.”
For many the recruiting process can be time consuming and stressful, but with this year and COVID, the recruiting process for Dibiase was met with even more challenges. “COVID definitely made me come along late in the process, as I knew many coaches had already filled their class of 2021. It made it difficult for me to attend many events or even step foot on certain campuses.” But, that did not stop Dibiase from becoming familiar with Amherst’s campus. She was able to drive through campus during the pandemic and walk around the downtown area. Being able to take in the school’s campus and atmosphere ensured Dibiase that Amhert was the right school for her. “To overcome the challenges that the pandemic caused, I had to remain persistent in my contacts with the coaches I was interested in. I had to do a lot of film on my own time and practice drills by myself.”
Dibiase’s continued commitment is what ensured her a spot on the Amherst field hockey team. “The recruiting process was honestly a bit stressful at times. But, all of my hard work has paid off, and I am now attending one of my top schools and I am able to continue my field hockey career into college.”
High School/GRIT History
Dibiase is a junior on the Chatham field hockey team where she is an integral player and leader. “On my high school team, one of my responsibilities as one of the seniors was to act as a role model for the underclassmen on the team, setting an example for what was expected of them.” As the role model and leader Dibiase had to reflect and think about her strengths as a player and leader and find ways to incorporate them into her routines both on and off the field. “I think my biggest strength is my versatility and coachability. I will really play whatever position I am put at on the field, and I believe that I am always willing to learn and constantly improve.” Not only did Dibiase support the underclassmen and teammates around her, Dibiase had a chance to improve personally as well. “Over this last year, I think my speed has improved greatly, as well as my confidence in myself on the field as a player.”
As Dibiase moves past her senior year and into her freshman year at Amherst she looks to develop her stick work. “I want to be able to dodge around people more quickly and with more control than I can do now.” While Dibiase reflects on what she looks forward to improving on she continues to think about her priorities which includes her relationships with teammates and academic success. “I am most looking forward to meeting all of the girls on my new team and becoming part of the program. I think it will be exciting because it’s like starting from scratch and becoming a freshman again. I’m most nervous about the initial process of being able to balance schoolwork and field hockey.”
Throughout her high school and club career, Paige Dibiase has her parents and coaches to thank. “I want to thank my parents for helping me stay motivated during these unbelievable circumstances, and I also want to thank my coaches for helping me effectively communicate with college coaches and stay connected with them.”
Paige playing in 5th/6th grade