Indiana University Athletics
IU Field Hockey Announces Four Signees for 2010 Class
2/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Feb. 4, 2010
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana field hockey head coach Amy Robertson has announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2010 class. Emily Bowker (Beach Haven, N.J./Southern Regional), Mariella Grote (Cincinnati, Ohio/Saint Ursula Academy), Danielle McNally (Marmora, N.J./Ocean City) and Gaby Olshemski (Shavertown, Pa./Lake-Lehman) will continue their careers at IU.
"We are honored and excited to welcome the 2010 incoming class to the Indiana Field Hockey Program," said Robertson. "It is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our current student-athletes that we are able to attract such tremendous talent to our program. This class has the opportunity to take our program to the next level and we are excited to see what their addition will mean to IU Field Hockey."
Bowker, 5-3 forward/midfielder, was a three-time all-county honoree and earned First Team All-Shore honors her senior season at Southern Regional High School. She helped her team win the A-South Championship in 2006, 2008 and 2009. A member of the USA Futures program, Bowker competed at nationals between 2006-09, at the Junior Olympics in 2008 and has been a member of Futures Elite since 2007. A participant in the 2009 Junior National Camp, Bowker was a four-time letterwinner in field hockey and earned two letters in track and field.
She is the daughter of Eileen and Brian Bowker and is also a surfing instructor and takes part in competitions.
"We were immediately drawn to Emily because of her natural hockey abilities and believe she can help impact our midfield line," said Robertson. "She plays a similar game that you see at our Junior National level and that will help her to compete in the Big Ten. She is also dedicated to taking her game to the next level during her career and is determined to do whatever it takes to reach her goals."
Grote, a 5-7 forward, led the South West Ohio Field Hockey League in scoring all four years at Saint Ursula and holds the record for most goals scored in a season. A three-time team captain, Grote helped Saint Ursula to a SWOFHL tournament title as a freshman on the junior varsity team and league championships as a sophomore and senior. She also aided in leading her team to a regional championship and a trip to the state semi-finals as a senior. She earned Offensive Player of the Year honors as a freshman, junior and senior and was also named the Player of the Year at Saint Ursula as a senior. A two-time First Team All-Ohio honoree as a senior, Grote was voted to be a board member of the Girls Athletic Association for Ohio High Schools. She also competed at Nationals in 2006 and 2009, and in the Junior Olympics in 2006.
Grote's older sister Lena is in her junior season at IU and is a forward for the Hoosiers. She is the daughter of Lisa Grote and John Zerbe.
"Mariella will upgrade our team's athletic talent immediately," Robertson said. "Her speed and strength will give our forward line a positive boost. She also possesses many intangibles such as strong leadership qualities, a great work ethic and the desire to strive for excellence, which will set her apart in terms of upward growth."
McNally, a 5-6 back, totaled 34 goals and 32 assists at Ocean City High School. She was a 2009 Harrow Sports/National Field Hockey Coaches Association Second Team All-American and a High School All-Region Team honoree. McNally also earned Star Ledger First Team All-State in 2008 and 2009, First Team All-State Group III honors in 2008 and 2009, and was the 2009 Press of Atlantic City Female Athlete of the Fall as a senior and the Press of Atlantic City Player of the Year as a junior. She was also a three-time Press of Atlantic City First Team All-Area, Courier Post First Team All-South Jersey, and Field Hockey Club of South Jersey First Team All-South Jersey honoree. McNally also earned First Team All-Cape Atlantic League honors between 2007-09 and is a two-time National Futures Championship selection. She was a 2008 AAU Junior Olympics selection.
McNally helped Ocean City to the 2009 New Jersey Group III state title and three consecutive Cape Atlantic League championships. As a freshman and junior, she helped Ocean City to the state Group III championships. The daughter of Wendy and George McNally, she is a four-year letterwinner in field hockey and track and field.
"We are in the process of rebuilding our backfield, and we see Danielle making an immediate impact there," said Robertson. "She possesses a high level of fundamental skills along with a poise and awareness that you rarely see in high school field hockey players. The other upside to Danielle's impact will be seen in how competitive and driven she is to succeed."
Olshemski, 5-1 midfielder, totaled 48 goals and 36 assists for a total of 132 points in her career at Lake-Lehman. She earned Pennsylvania First Team All-State honors as a junior and senior, and second team honors as a sophomore. The two-time Citizens Voice First Team All-Star, Olshemski ranked among the top 10 in scoring in the Wyoming Valley Conference between her sophomore and senior season. She was the recipient of the Buddy Boris Underclassmen Award and earned Pennsylvania Academic All-State honors as a senior. She helped Lake-Lehman to gold medals at the 2008 National Field Hockey Championships, at the 2006 and 2008 National Field Hockey Festival Pool A championships and helped her team win gold, silver and bronze medals at the Keystone State Games. Olshemski and Lake-Lehman also earned silver and gold medals at the Delaware State Games. She was a four-year letterwinner in field hockey and basketball, and earned two letters in soccer. Olshemski holds the school record for 3-point field goals in a game, season and career at Lake-Lehman, and is a member of the National Honors Society and Who's Who Among High School Students.
She is the daughter of Cindy and Frank Olshemski.
"Gaby is another great Pennsylvania player who has the potential to develop into a real threat on our forward or midfield line," Robertson said. "What she does not have in size she makes up for in elimination skills, awareness, speed and quickness. Her abilities will enhance our efforts to increase the team's tempo of play."
