Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Caroline Dellin, New Trier field hockey

Caroline Dellin is a senior midfielder for the Trevians who is committed to play for Indiana University starting next year.

1. Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

Yes, I always the night before a game like to visualize plays I would want to make — a skill I want to do or a goal I score. In the game, I find my body just does it whenever I think about it the night before. And right before the game, I put on my left shin guard and left shoe first, then my right shin guard and right shoe.

2. What is Indiana a good fit for you?

For the last couple of years, I did a … clinic there and immediately felt at home. The coaches welcomed me in and the players too, and they taught me so much. The coaches are amazing. My future head coach (Kayla Bashore) is an Olympian and know’s what it takes to be successful and play at the highest level. … She also played at Indiana and ws really successful when she was there, so she wants to win at Indiana.

3. When did you start playing field hockey?

I started paying field hockey in first grade. I just moved from the city to the suburbs and there was no field hockey in the city. My mom immediately put me in a house league program. She and my aunt played field hockey in college at North Carolina, and both were pretty achieved players there. They wanted me to play. My sister (Charlotte) didn’t really like it and played soccer. They wanted someone to play field hockey in the family.

4. What’s been your top moment in the sport?

When we won state last year. That game was such a battle. We played (Glenbrook North) and lost to them twice in the regular season and they scored on us first. And we didn’t score until the fourth (quarter) and then they immediately scored again. … We won in overtime. It was the biggest moment of relief and happiness at the same time. And I was extremely exhausted. It was a bunch of emotions mixing, and one of the happiest moments of my life when we won because of how hard we worked and that hard work paid off.

5. If you could try another sport, what would it be?

I would do gymnastics. I think gymnasts are cool. There is so much dedication that goes into it. I look up to Simone Biles a lot. It takes so much skill to be a good gymnast. I think I would like to learn cool skills.

6. What is your dream job?

I’m kind of in between a lot of things, but I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer or do something in business, or I would also want to be a special education teacher at New Trier. I am involved in clubs that work closely with students in Special Olympics and it’s a big passion of mine.

7. If you’re in Walgreens with a couple bucks, what are you buying?

I would definitely buy a crisp apple Bloom energy drink. I don’t drink coffee, so when I’m tired or it’s an early-morning practice I’ll have one. It takes just like apple juice. It’s not bitter. And then I’d get a bag of Reese’s (Peanut Butter) Cups Thins. My family is huge Reese’s fans and the Thins are great. I’d get a bag for our family to share.

8. What is something people don’t know about you?

Like I mentioned before of wanting to be a special-education teacher. I am in the Enriching Life through Service club at New Trier and Special Olympics. I work closely with classmates with those clubs and now I’m on the board of the ELS club. … I would recommend any students to join the ELS club.

9. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

I would definitely travel to Paris. I have been taking French for a while and have very basic French skills. The city of Paris looks so nice and so does the rest of France. I’d like to explore the entirety of France.

10. What makes this team so successful?

The reason why we’re so successful is we work together as a team so well. We have a really big team this year, 28 (players); it’s one of our biggest teams and we all work so well together and are really close. … We uplift each other. We are a complete team and all 28 have a role and are important to our success.

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