Since she was a second grader Kylie McDevitt, a communications major at Cabrini with the goal of becoming a sports broadcaster, has had a passion for field hockey and the community that playing on a team creates. After a friend had told her about Cabrini she transferred from Montgomery County Community College and has fallen in love with the campus.
“It’s the perfect school,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for a better field hockey team.”
She loves the team so much that she stated that her greatest accomplishments in field hockey stemmed from her time on Cabrini’s team last year. Even though she’s been to three outdoor and five indoor nationals, she is most proud of gaining the title “Rookie of the Year” from the CSAC and the ability of the team to make it into the CSAC championships.
It hasn’t been all fun and games though. There have been times where McDevitt thought she might have to give up the sport she loves. In high school she developed problems with her hips and when doctors performed an MRI with no success in determining what the problem was the thought of leaving field hockey almost became reality.
“I knew that not a lot of schools would want an injured player,” she said recalling her thoughts during the time.
Luckily at the end of last season a different doctor was able to look at McDevitt’s MRI from six years ago and determine the problem. She had surgery in January on her right hip that should allow the pain when she plays to eventually subside.
“A lot of times on the sideline during games I’ll pace behind the huddle and if I keep it moving it doesn’t concentrate the pain,” she said. “Everyone thinks it’s hilarious that I pace like a caged animal.”
When she’s not on the field, McDevitt, enjoys simply hanging out with her friends and watching Netflix, but she’s also a student. McDevitt is passionate about the sport and claims that it doesn’t harm her academic responsibilities. She speaks fondly of her head coach, Jackie Neary, who supports the fact that her athletes are student athletes and makes sure the players know that getting good grades goes hand in hand with performing well on the field.
“What it’s really geared towards is skills that will help you in any aspect,” she said in regards to her major. She feels that studying communications has afforded her opportunities to understand a large number of potential future jobs.
McDevitt has her heart in the world of field hockey and she has found a way to make sure it remains a part of her life by working towards her goal of becoming a sports broadcaster. Her love and passion for the sport, her team, her academics and the future make Kylie a great example for future student athletes.
