S. ABINGTON TWP. — Wagner College checked all the boxes for Abington Heights’ Shaelyn Kobrynich — a liberal arts institution with a strong academic reputation, close proximity to a big city, a small campus size, and the opportunity to play for a Division 1 program.

The junior verbally committed, this month, to attend and play field hockey at the school in Staten Island, NY, in 2020.

Touring the campus and participating in a clinic in October sealed the deal for Kobrynich.

“The coaches were really nice and welcoming,” she said. “I loved the campus and I’ve always wanted to be in a city, but I didn’t want to go to a really big school. I liked the small school aspect of it.

“Their academics are also really great. Before you graduate, you’re guaranteed an internship in Manhattan and that really appealed to me.”

Wagner will sponsor a field hockey team in 2019-2020 for the first time since 1978 and the Seahawks will play in the Northeast Conference. Kobrynich is looking forward to learning under the guidance of head coach Jill DiSanti.

“She was really great (at the clinic),” Kobrynich said. “Even if you were a really great player, she always told you how you can improve because there is always room to improve. I’m really excited to work with her when I go there.”

While softball was Kobrynich’s first love, she developed a passion for field hockey shortly after taking up the sport.

“I started playing field hockey in seventh grade with the Abington Heights junior high program,” she said. “I thought it would just be a sport to have fun in the fall and keep me in shape for softball, but I fell in love with it.”

Kobrynich’s involvement with the Electric Surge Field Hockey Club, based out of Dallas, helped improve her skills and increase her appreciation for the sport.

“I started with indoor my freshman year,” she said. “It’s a completely different game, but it stills helps you with everything in outdoor. I wasn’t the best and I wasn’t on a state-winning team, but I just wanted to play the sport. I learned so much from them and they say they see so much more come from me every year.

“It’s due to the hard practices and opportunities they’ve given me with huge showcase tournaments.”

Kobrynich has been an impact player for Abington Heights’ varsity team since ninth grade and an early accomplishment boosted her confidence.

“I had the opportunity to start as a freshman and it really made me excited when I won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award,” she said. “It made me feel like maybe I can do this and get a lot better.”

The Clarks Summit resident praised Comets head coach Samantha Krut for being a positive influence on and off the field.

“My freshman year, (Laura) Notarianni was the head coach and Sam was an assistant,” Kobrynich said. “She brought a new energy to the team. She played in college and helped me grow as a player as well as a person. She taught me a lot of leadership skills and how to be a cool and collected player.”

Kobrynich, 16, credits her parents, Christine and Jason, for helping her navigate through the recruiting process.

“A lot of girls in the Wyoming Valley Conference commit to big programs very soon,” she said. “I just had to keep working and my parents have really helped me not get too stressed.”

Kobrynich also plays softball and is a member of the Transition Team and Yearbook Club at Abington Heights.

Abington Heights’ Shaelyn Kobrynich has verbally committed to attend and play field hockey at Wagner College.
https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_ABJ-AH-FH-3-1.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights’ Shaelyn Kobrynich has verbally committed to attend and play field hockey at Wagner College. Abington Journal file photo

By Robert Tomkavage

rtomkavage@timesleader.com

Reach Robert Tomkavage at 570-704-3941 or on Twitter @rtomkavage.