Just like most little siblings, Amanda Arnold has always admired her older sister.
A senior back on the Ohio field hockey squad, Arnold remembered picking up a hockey stick around fifth grade because her sister had taken up the sport.
She's been a leader for all of her teams and for me
Arnold said of her sister Jess, who is three years older. I played with her for softball basketball and field hockey for at least two years. I just think she has great integrity and character.
After the sisters teamed up at Shore Regional High School in Oceanport, N.J., Jess played four years at the University of Rhode Island, where she captained the team both junior and senior years and is now an assistant coach. After she finished high school, Amanda became a Bobcat.
The team most of all is what got me (to Ohio)
Arnold said, because if you can't enjoy your teammates and feel that you can spend the next four years with them
you're not going to enjoy your time.
After following in her sister's footsteps for so long and seeing what it takes to be a leader, it's no surprise that Arnold was named captain of this year's Bobcat squad.
Second-year coach Neil Macmillan hadn't been at Ohio long enough to see her mature from her freshman year, but Arnold's showing last year was enough to convince him that she was ready for the responsibility.
In the leadership role
she really stepped it up
Macmillan said. (Choosing captains)
that's not something that I allow the kids to vote on. I look at who's displaying the leadership qualities and then select my captains from there. She's the captain and definitely displayed the qualities I want to see out there.
Her teammates would agree, especially forward Torrie Albini, who has played with Arnold for three years.
She can pick up the intensity alone
Albini said. She's such a great leader on the field
off the field. Her heart's in it
her desire for the team to be the best
