Julia Widen ’24 is a four-year Senior from Bronxville, New York, and  co-captain of Varsity Field Hockey. Widen plays as an attacker. She recently committed to play field hockey at Johns Hopkins University. She also runs for Varsity Track & Field. Teammate Bea Garvey ’24 said, “Julia is one of the most dedicated and capable athletes I’ve ever met. Her drive, passion, and intensity set the tone on the field every day, pinning her as a role model for everyone on the team. Her spirit and leadership on and off the field make it clear how much she cares about our team. We’re extremely lucky to have her as a captain.”

When did you fall in love with field hockey?

I started playing field hockey when I was in 7th grade. I really fell in love with the sport in the fall of my 8th grade year, when I made the varsity team at my old school. 

I like how active field hockey is, and it has a great community of people that play it.

What are some of your goals for this season?

I expect that we will be a lot more successful than last year—we only lost one Senior and we’ve had a lot of good new talent come in. I hope that we make it as far as we did during my Lower Mid year, when we made the semi-finals of the New England Tournament.

What is a favorite memory from your time on the field hockey team?

A favorite memory was from my Lower Mid year, when we beat Westminster in the quarter-finals of the NEPSAC tournament. We had lost to them earlier in the season, so it was like a comeback game. We really played our hearts out, and Westminster had a lot of fans there, so being able to beat them and move on in the tournament was such a great moment.

What’s your advice for younger field hockey players?

Always hustle. Even if you aren’t the most skilled player out there, if you’re the one with the most grit, the one who’s going for every 50/50 ball, and going the extra mile, coaches are going to notice you.

Why did you decide to commit to Johns Hopkins?

Johns Hopkins came on to my radar pretty late in the recruiting process, but once it was an option and I visited the campus, it quickly became my dream school. 

The team has a history of success, yet the coach is very laid-back and positive. It seems like a great group of people who perform at a high level in both athletics and academics, and I’m very excited to be a part of the community there.