As a field hockey goalie and captain, Lizzie Karnofel is a perfect example of what a leader should look like at Hudson High School.
Along with Field Hockey, she is involved in many extracurricular activities such as team manager for the ice hockey team, Leadership Conference Planning Committee and Service Learning, all of which keep her very busy during the school year and even through the summer. As a senior and team captain, Karnofel is responsible for running field hockey conditioning and team bonding during the summer and fall, both things that she has to balance with school, and her job.
She works at CycleBar, where she takes shifts before school in the mornings, starting her day at 4 a.m. During the spring and summer, she continues to keep busy as she works hard during her free time at the baseball concession stand, successfully helping to raise money.
Karnofel is a hard worker with an strong work ethic, and it is amazing to hear all the activities she is involved in. In order to keep a healthy balance between her extracurriculars, school and free time, Karnofel says, “You have to be able to manage your time well. It is important to always stay organized.”
Karnofel has been playing field hockey for five years, and through her time in the program, she has made many connections and learned many lessons. Hudson Field Hockey has an amazing reputation for their ethics and sportsmanship, and the team has won the Team Ethics and Sportsmanship award many years in a row.
Karnofel chooses to play field hockey because the program at Hudson is especially respected, and she believes that the values and lessons that she is being taught are lessons that she will use for the rest of her life. Karnofel says, “My favorite thing about the program is how supportive the coaches are of every decision the players make and how the team comes together every day to accomplish the same goal.” Karnofel loves the bond the field hockey team has with each other and how everyone comes to practice every day with the same mindset.
Throughout her years on the team, Karnofel has worked hard and has never failed to step up and be a leader when the team needs her. After delivering a thoughtful and inspiring speech, Karnofel was elected captain of the 2023 team, and after working so hard for the past three years, she does not want to let any of that go to waste during her senior season.
As captain she has many hopes for the season. Karnofel wants to help the team to bond with one another, inspire a hard work ethic, and ultimately lead the team through another victorious season. “I want everyone to show up at practice, excited to be there every day. I want to create a safe environment where the team can come together as a whole,” Karnofel says. She wants to bring the team together as a whole, teaching her teammates how to play together as one.
For the team as a whole she hopes to accomplish the ultimate goal of winning the state championship, however she believes that can only be achieved through very hard work every day at practice.
As a goalie her position is not like that of a typical player. “I am able to see the entire field at one time, meaning I am able to see more passing options and opportunities to pass the ball to space and get it out of danger zones.” She has a unique view of the field which expands her knowledge of the game, making her a person who all of her teammates are able to trust.
With such big goals for the team, conditioning at practice is essential. While it is very hard work, Karnofel believes it is necessary for the overall success of the team. Field hockey is a sport that relies on running, meaning it is very important to run often. Some examples of typical running tests done on the field hockey team are the timed mile, burmas, the cooper run and gassers, along with many more.
Karnofel’s position is unique because during a typical game, a goalie does little to no running. However her fitness is equally as important because, although she is not running all over the field, she needs to have good agility and hand-eye coordination in order to be successful in her position. Karnofel believes that she needs to be equally involved in conditioning because every player is one as a team. “If the team goes through pain, I go through pain too.”
As a member of the team for all four years of highschool, Karnofel has seen many great wins, but also some devastating, season-ending losses. Playing goalie, Karnofel faces a lot of pressure as the last player the ball has to get through. Karnofel’s sense of community helps her deal with those losses. “I rely on my relationships with my friends, family and teammates who I am able to communicate with openly. I am lucky to have very close relationships with people who I am able to talk with no matter how I play.”
This year the field hockey team has been pretty successful. “While the beginning was slow, I believe we are all starting to come together as one and play as a whole. Our intensity grows every day at practice, and the trust we have for each other as teammates is getting better every day.”
As a leader, she is trying her best to bring the team together as one and while this is hard work, she wouldn’t have it any other way. To future leaders she says, “Not every day is going to be perfect, so be where your feet are and live in the moment. The years go by quick so don’t stress over the small stuff. If you focus on the little things, you will overlook the big picture.”
