Senior Kayla Sykes has signed with Wagner College for Division I field hockey and plans on majoring in either pre-law psychology or sports administration, with a double minor in journalism and communications.

Sykes made the decision to go DI because she has always dreamed of playing at the highest level she could. After some debate on playing collegiately her freshman year, she decided it would be better to try then not go for it at all.

“It has been my dream since I was a kid,” Sykes said. “I started playing in seventh grade, and I loved it.”

Some of her team’s milestones from playing field hockey include increasing records each year she played and making it past the first round of Districts, which is something the team has not done in all her years of playing. One of her personal milestones is getting a D1 offer from Wagner College, which was a college that was interested after three weeks of submitting her playing videos.

Some recognitions Sykes has received are MVP her sophomore year, offense player of the year her junior year, captain her junior and senior year and being selected for the Nexus Selection Camp, which is a field hockey camp for the best players in the country.

Someone who has impacted Sykes the most is her first field hockey coach, Mr. David Koretz.

“He introduced me to field hockey, and he always pushed me to be my best,” Sykes said. “He always knew my potential, and I still hear his reminders when I am playing a game.”

Another person who has impacted Sykes is head field hockey coach Ms. Marielle Cohen. Sykes said she was excited to play for coach Cohen because she was also a D1 athlete.

“She shaped me into the athlete I am today,” Sykes said.

Sykes also mentioned that coach Cohen was with her when she decommitted from Montclair University and when she committed to Wagner College.

Sykes was also impacted by DV graduate Mackenzie Olsommer.

“She was a senior when I was a freshman and she was my ‘big sister,’ which is when a senior player gets a freshman player to work with,” Sykes said. “I loved her work ethic and drive. She made me into a better player.”

Sykes also mentioned her field hockey club’s head coach and said she would not be where she is today without her assistance.

Sykes’s advice to anyone who aspires to take a similar path is to follow your dreams.

“Take a risk,” Sykes said. “And always work hard. Don’t let anyone say you can’t do it.”