Fielding Questions with Kristen Tiner
10/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Defensive penalty corners can be somewhat intimidating, especially for Wolverine opponents when facing a rocket from the stick of senior/junior Kristen Tiner. Since taking the role as one Michigan's primary strikers, Tiner has racked up nine goals -- including four gamewinners -- and four assists. Tiner has also established herself a regular in the U-M midfield over the last two seasons, serving as the glue that connects all vital pieces of the Wolverine field hockey team. Admidst a busy week of exams and preparation for the Wolverines' regular-season finale, Kristen took a break to chat about her greatest piece of advice, returning for a fifth year and her adjustment from the Texas heat to more moderate Michigan temperatures.
On her start in field hockey
"In seventh grade they played at my middle school. My teacher told me that if I was going to run around, then I may as well run around with a stick in my hand, so I started playing. My sophomore year in high school, I started to think about playing in college. I was on the 16U national team, and that same teacher who told me to play field hockey, and who was my mentor throughout high school, helped me figure out what I wanted to do."
On her most memorable game
"It's hard because there are so many good games, but I would say beating Indiana last year in the Big Ten tournament was the most memorable. We were the underdogs, and it was great to get an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament."
On game day superstitions
"My superstition is to not be superstitious. So I dont I have any rituals, I just come here and play. Although I do really like to be on time, so I am always here really early."
On her most standout piece of advice
"Yeah, one of my coaches, Greg Gephardt, who actually passed away when I was a freshman in high school once said, 'There are no failures in life, only people who give up too soon.' I think that has always stuck with me, and I have his name on my stick to help me remember that."
On playing at home versus playing on the road
"It's great to be at home where we get to have our home crowd. But it's awesome because our parents always travel with us to wherever we are playing, and we always try to turn the away field into our own field."
On Ann Arbor's cold weather
"I am from Texas, so the cold weather definitely does bother me. A couple of weeks ago, when it was snowing, you couldnt see the ball on the turf and that did make it more difficult to play. But we are out here to practice, so you kind of just have to put it out of your mind. I also have to wear gloves in the cold because it hurts your hands when you hit the ball in the cooler weather."
On balancing athletics and academics
"At times it is hard to balance the two. For instance, yesterday I had a midterm and I had to miss practice, and you never want to do that. But that's the whole balance of being a student-athlete. Our coaches and support staff really help us with that. I am a double major -- I'm in the business school and studying English -- so it is hard to schedule classes and balance the work load. But they give us every advantage and opportunity to do well with the Academic Success Program, and they give us tutors or help us with whatever we need."
On the best part about playing hockey at Michigan
"The tradition -- it can't be beat. Any school you go to doesn't have as much pride or history that Michigan does, and you get to feel it every time you put on the Block M."
On coming back for her fifth year next year
"I have planned on it since freshman year and have also planned my degree around it. So, I kept my English major when I was admitted to the business school last year. In terms of field hockey, I am not finished yet, and I really want to come back and play again. The spring will be rough because I won't have my class there, but I will have a new class to integrate into which I am looking forward to."
On her plans for the future
"I want to go into sales and/or marketing, preferably in Chicago or New York. I had an internship with a major consumer goods company this summer, so I might return there. But I really want to explore my options with sales and marketing."
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
