Eleanor Helm ’25 is a four-year Senior from Loudonville, New York. She is co-captain of Varsity Field Hockey and a member of Girls Varsity Basketball and Girls Varsity Lacrosse. Helm hopes to get recruited this fall or become a walk-on in college.
Co-captain Melon McCooey said, “Every day, Helm shows up to practice ready to play, always leading by example with her hard work and skills. She is a great communicator on the field and helps keep the team motivated with her positivity and fun.”
How did you start playing field hockey?
I started in 5th or 6th grade. It wasn’t really popular where I grew up, but my parents drove me 30- 45 minutes away to attend camps during the summer.
I began to play seriously when I came to Hotchkiss.
What made you choose Hotchkiss?
My older brother, sister, and mother are alums. It has always been in the family—my mom was also captain of the field hockey team her Senior year.
When we were younger, we would come and watch games. As a result, it was Hotchkiss or nothing for me.
What has your experience on the team been like?
It has been a really big part of my life here. I learned a lot about the power of discipline, because it is a team that asks a lot.
The team has a big name to uphold, having won the Founder’s Championships and New England Championships many times.
Playing here is much more intense than practicing at home. The conditioning is tough and the league that we play in is also very challenging. Each team has really great players, which pushes me to compete harder.
We like to say that we follow the lessons from geese—like flying in a V-formation to uplift and support each other.
Learning to be disciplined in field hockey has also taught me to be disciplined in the classroom.
What are some of your favorite memories while playing for the school?
My Prep year, we lost to Westminster in the regular season; it was pretty upsetting, because we weren’t expecting to lose.
However, in the playoffs, we got matched against them again and ended up beating them.
What is it like being a captain?
It is definitely a big change from being a fun, goofy member of the team to taking on the role of the serious leader.
I’ve been on the team for four years, and stepping into this leadership role has been something I have been waiting for and looking forward to.
What advice would you give to younger players?
Things won’t always go your way. Embody the quote “hard work beats talent” by waking up early in the morning, getting extra reps in, and dedicating yourself to your sport.
