Ryann Giannini

Hockey Background

At the age of 5 i started playing at the minis at AH&BC for 1 year, and moved to VVV, where I played for 2 years, playing in the age group above. Staying in this higher age group, I moved to Pinoke, playing in a friend team for 3 years, however, excelling and training with higher teams, leading up to multiple league championships. At the age of 11, I decided to play at a higher level and stay an extra year in the O-12, playing with the second team and leading us to the district championship. After moving to O-14, I led my team to 2 Subtop league championships in Indoor and Outdoor as consecutive MVP and Captain during my O-14 years at Pinoke. I played my last year at Pinoke in O-16. I led my team through the subtop league once again; however, at the end of the year, I made the decision to leave Pinoke to move to HIC. I did this as I wanted to play at a higher level, immediately training and playing in the Super B league. Since my first year in the O18, I have been training and playing with O18-1 weekly, at the Super A level, allowing me to learn how to play at a collegiate level at a fast speed.

At 13, I started my NEXUS development, flying to Virginia to compete in the regional championships for U14, where I was able to meet other field hockey players. These players then became my teammates at the U14 NEXUS Championship games. At the games, I was the highest goal scorer with goals and assists combined, and was able to form connections with players and coaches that I still keep in touch with today. This experience was so important to me, as it inspired me to play field hockey in college.

Sports have always been an amazing experience for me, playing with my school (International School of Amsterdam) in NECIS (Northern European Council for International Schools) at both varsity and JV levels. I played on the JV basketball team, where we won the championship, along with winning the Varisity soccer league in 9th grade, placing 1st in JV and Varsity Volleyball in the league, and being a member of the Varsity swim team, placing 1st and 3rd out of my 3 races in the championships.

As a striker, my strengths include hard shots on goal, both forehand and backhand, and leading in hitting corners on all of the teams I have been a member of. Additionally, my driving skills allow me to drive through the field and attack from the defending D to the attacking D. Another strentgh that I feel has been translated through my experiences playing on other team sports, like soccer and basketball, is the ability to see the field, finding the perfect pass and moving into the right spaces to accelerate the game, a skill I feel my time at Pinoke has taught me. Finally, I am a strong communicator, listener, and leader, being the captain on my teams, and telling my teammates how to adjust to certain game/opposing team circumstances and being extremely coachable, listening and applying and adive or feedback. Being a coach for the boys U14 at Pinoke, I have learned more about how to see the field, when to pass, and where open spaces are, including improving my communication and leadership skills.

Why play in college?

Playing in my home country has always been a dream for me, and I am so excited to have the opportunity to make that dream come true. I am originally from California, but have lived in Amsterdam since I was 1, where I fell in love with hockey. I look forward to living the college experience, a combination of top-level sports and education, all put together to experience the best 4 years of my life. But most importantly, I am excited to be a part of a community of players and coaches to feel like a true team. Being the only international player on all of my teams, it has been hard to feel a part of the community, which is why I am so excited to be a part of one. Field hockey and education have always been two separate parts of my life, but I look forward to combining the two, having a supporting community that strives to compete and win. I am excited to be surrounded by a motivated team, where we aim to create bonds on and off the field.

Studying at the International Baccalaureate (IB), I have been in an intensely academic environment for the last 4 years of my life, which is why I feel that I am able to take on the pressure of both sports and academics in college. I feel that the IB has prepared me to take on heavy workloads and still be able to succeed, a skill that is incredibly important in college.

I hope to get the best educational and social experience at college, with a combination of high academics and forming bonds on and off the field, making friends for life while preparing myself for a world outside of college. I am extremely excited to feel the sports culture in a school, something that I believe can truly build a community, which I feel from being on my school sports teams, and being able to feel the school spirit at home games and at tournaments.

Overall, this experience is something I have dreamed of since I was a little kid, to build a community, lifelong friends, and a future-building education, all to create 4 years that I will remember for the rest of my life.