Vixen Spotlight: Rebecca Olander

Sport: field hockey Position: defense Class: junior Hometown: Richmond, Va. Major: Art History Concentration: Spanish and Arts Management Certificate

What songs get you ready to compete? Usually, I'm a country girl, but before a game, rap gets me pumped up!

What are your pre-game habits? I like to have a lot of preparation time to calm down and gather my thoughts before a game. I like to have a good breakfast at the beginning of the day. Right before the game, I visualize how I am going to play, what I can improve on, and start getting excited to play.

What is the most rewarding part about being a student-athlete? I have a great relationship with my professors and I am lucky to have professors that understand my dedication to the sport.

Describe your best athletic moment at Sweet Briar. When I made my first goal at Sweet Briar, which is rare for a defender. Also, being injured this season was humbling and let me see the field from a different point of view, which helped me give better advice to my teammates.

Why did you choose Sweet Briar? At first I hadn't considered a women's college. My mother and I drove around Virginia, visiting small private colleges, and Sweet Briar was my last stop. I met a former field hockey player and talked to coach Crispen on my visit here. Everyone was so welcoming and made me truly believe that this was a place where I could excel academically and athletically, which is very important to me.

What is your favorite place on campus? I don't know if I can think of one specific place.

Most challenging class? This semester, it's biology! Being an art history major, I haven't taken a lab science since high school, so I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things.

What campus clubs/organizations are you involved in outside of athletics? I have worked to help organize Arts Day on campus and I am a Chung Mung. I'm also on the senior class campaign committee.

What are your plans for after graduation? As of right now, I plan to go to school to be a nurse or physician's assistant. Although my major is very different, I still want to be around athletics and would like to work in an orthopedic office. After nursing, I want to use my degree to work in a museum or in marketing or event planning.

When I am not participating in my sport, I enjoy... finding time to relax! I like a good nap and hanging out with friends.

Favorite sports movie? "Remember the Titans ."

An interesting fact about me is... I have a black and white long-hair Chihuahua!.

 

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