Wolverine Spotlight Q&A: Casie Ammerman
10/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 15, 2015
Junior/sophomore Casie Ammerman has quietly recorded a breakthrough season in the Wolverine midfield, where she has started 10 of 14 games this year, including each of the last nine. She recorded her first -- and only to date -- collegiate shot at Rutgers several weeks again, earning an assist when freshman Lydia Sydnor tipped it into the cage.
A native of Ann Arbor, Ammerman grew up a Wolverine fan and attending field hockey games. After redshirting her first year, she appeared in all 20 games last season -- with two starts -- before using her fitness and savvy play to claim a larger role this season.
As the Wolverines prepare to travel to Evanston, Illinois, for a Big Ten matchup against rival Northwestern, Ammerman took some time before practice to talk about her evolution at midfield, her strength as a player and her Ann Arbor roots.
Q. How have you seen yourself improve over the last few years?
A. I definitely think that, through fitness, I've really improved. I came in with good fitness, but with all the training we do in the offseason and through the season, I think that really helped because it's such a tiring game. I was able to keep playing hard and make good decisions even when I'm tired. I think that's really helped me improve from the field hockey standpoint. I also think just gaining experience on the field, especially after my redshirt year, getting out on the field last year gave me a lot of confidence coming into this year and taking on a larger role.
Q. How has your role evolved? You went from redshirting to playing a good amount last year to playing a lot this year.
A. It's been really exciting to get on the field for the majority of the game. It definitely has evolved. I learned a lot through redshirting and just watching the game. Last year, I got to a position where I could watch the older players and experience what it felt like to be in those positions and situations. This year, I've taken control of what I'm doing in the game and really building on that.
Q. So, what exactly are you doing in the game? You're a bit of an unheralded starter without a lot of stats and spotlight, but you're also not coming off the field. Obviously, you've been a major contributor.
A. I'm really all over the place, playing the mid position. You really play offense and defense at the same time. I try to get back on defense to help out the defenders, and when the ball goes up on attack, I run up there and support the forwards so they can drive it into the circle and scored. I'm really just trying to do whatever I can to make sure my team is solid on both ends.
Q. Do you think that your fitness is one of your biggest strengths?
A. Yeah, I definitely think so. It's a really tough position being a midfield. Fitness plays a big role. You're up and down the field the entire game. I'm able to stay in for a lot of the game because I have that fitness.
Q. Marcia (Pankratz) has commented that you're one of the smartest players on the field and you only need to be told something once. Is that another major strength? Do you feel like you learn quickly?
A. I come from a gymnastics background. I think I'm pretty coachable, and it comes from that. You learn a lot of discipline from gymnastics. I really listen to and absorb what the coaches say, because I just want to get onto the field.
Q. Did you grow up a Michigan fan?
A. Definitely. I've been a huge Michigan fan since I was little. I was a Michigan cheerleader for Halloween as a kid. My mom went here, and my whole family is full of Michigan fans. Growing up in Ann Arbor, I always went to games.
Q. How would you characterize the Ann Arbor field hockey community? Field hockey is necessarily big in Michigan, but it's pretty big here in Ann Arbor. When did you start playing?
A. I think it all trickles down from the university. The program here is so great and has been for quite a while. I went to all the game when I was younger. I started playing when I was in eighth or ninth grade. It was actually Eliza (Stein) who told me to start playing.
Q. Does the team have a lot of momentum right now?
A. Oh yeah. It's been awesome to have these games where we've been shutting out teams. We have great momentum in the forward line, starting to score more and more goals. It's really carrying over from game to game, and we're really pushing hard. We're working really hard at being smart over the ball, and we focus a lot on the tactics of the game. It's all about execution, and that's what we're going. We're executing the tactics we discuss, and we're playing smart.
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