LYNNFIELD (Podcast) For their exploits both in the classroom and their chosen field of athletics, hockey standouts Jake Vana of St. John’s Prep and Catie Kampersal of Lynnfield have been chosen as the Moynihan Lumber North Shore Student-Athletes of the Month for January.
Catie Kampersal – Peabody Lynnfield North Reading (PLNR) Hockey with Bill Newell
A senior captain and key member of the PLNR (Peabody/Lynnfield/North Reading) co-op girls hockey squad, Kampersal was wildly impressive on the ice throughout January and beyond. Serving as a reliable three-zone playmaker, Kampersal finished the regular season with 22 points (13 goals, 9
assists) while helping her squad go 16-4 and wrap up the No. 9 seed in the Division 1 state tournament. Now, she’s hoping to lead her team to a deep playoff run, beginning with an opening round matchup with Winchester on Wednesday evening. “As we enter the playoffs, our biggest key to success is going to be staying focused,” said Kampersal. “Many times if we get a lead, we will start to let down, but we are going to have to give 100 percent for a full 45 minutes. It is always a fun time to be with the team, but I am looking forward to putting pucks in the net and earning a spot in further rounds.” While Kampersal is solely focused on hockey at the moment, she’s also a standout on the soccer pitch and softball field. Academically, she boasts a 3.72 GPA in the classroom and regularly challenges herself with advanced placement and honors level classes.
For her, it’s all about motivation. “The past four years I have put in endless hours of hard work and effort to be where I am today both academically and athletically, and I’m proud to see it be noticed by the people around me who have helped me tremendously,” she said. “The most important key to balancing both school and sports is motivation. If you are motivated to excel and be your very best, people will help you succeed along the way.”Kampersal takes pride in being a leader, too.
