University of New Hampshire Athletics
2/24/2021 11:53:00 PM | General, Men's Track & Field, Women's Lacrosse, Men's Cross Country
By Nathan Griffiths
Special to UNHWildcats.com
Ava Schroeder of the women's lacrosse team and James Wilkes of the men's cross country and track and field teams are featured in this week's Service Credit Union Student-Athlete Spotlight.
Ava is from Niskayuna, N.Y. and is a sophomore midfielder for the women's lacrosse team. She is a remarkable student-athlete and earned a spot on the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll in her freshman year. Also as a freshman, she played in all five games and scored her first collegiate goal.
James is from Concord, N.H. and is a senior on the cross country and track and field teams. He is the captain for the cross country team. Wilkes earned second team All-Conference accolades for placing 12th at the 2019 America East Championship..He has also been named to the America East Academic Honor Roll.
Now let's get to know more about Ava and James.
Q&A WITH AVA:
What inspired you to play lacrosse?
I started playing in fifth grade because all my friends started to play. I was just doing it for fun at first. After a few years I realized how impactful this sport was on me. I created so many relationships with friends and coaches and many more, that I felt this was going to be a part of me for a long time. Ever since middle school I saw myself playing in college. And since then, I have loved playing!
What has been your favorite moment so far playing lacrosse at UNH?
My favorite moment so far was from last season. It was in the locker room before our away game at Dartmouth. Dartmouth was ranked 11th so we knew this was going to be a tough one. This was the last game we had before we got sent home because of COVID-19 last season. Before the game in the locker room everyone was getting hyped and dancing as we blasted music from the speakers. My friend played this rap song that I know every single word to and the song is like six minutes long. I got up in the middle of everyone and began singing it at the top of my lungs. Everyone was dancing and hyped up. It was a lot of fun and something I will always remember.
What was it like to score your first collegiate goal?
Scoring my first goal was unreal. We were playing Fairfield that game. I was set up for an eight-meter shot and with a blink of an eye the ball was in the back of the net. I threw my stick and jumped around all excited. Everyone came over to hug me and celebrate as it was my first goal. And at the beginning of the season, we pick a song to play for when we score. I picked "Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer and when that blasted through the stadium speakers, I knew it was a goal. For the rest of the game, I was all hyped.
What made you choose to come to UNH?
When I came on one of the visits looking at UNH, I was welcomed right away by the girls on the team and I was not even on the team yet. They had such a strong bond that you could see right away. I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. UNH has such a welcoming vibe to it all around I knew this was where I was supposed to be for the next four years.
OFF THE FIELD WITH AVA:
Favorite Color: Orange
Favorite TV Show: Friends
Favorite Movie: The Proposal
Favorite Food: Smoothie Bowls
Favorite Snack: Blueberries
Favorite Musical Artist: Kanye West or Juice Wrld
Favorite Pump-up song: "Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer or "Fergalicious" by Fergie
Favorite Actor: Ryan Reynolds or Brad Pitt
Favorite Pro Sports Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Favorite Pro Sports Athlete: Lindsey Vonn
Favorite Place on Campus: Wildcat Stadium
Dream Job: Athletic Trainer for an NHL team
Q&A WITH JAMES:
What does it mean to you to be named the team captain?
Being named a team captain is an affirmation of all the work I have done in my time at UNH, on and off the track. It means that my coaches see and appreciate leadership qualities that I have shown over the past few years.
How do you feel representing your home state?
Representing my home state is very rewarding. I get to put on the "New Hampshire" jersey every time I race and wear it with pride.
What has been your favorite cross country meet and why?
My favorite cross country meet was the dual meet we had with Maine my junior year. Normally, that meet is not the most exciting and people do not want to drive up to Orono on a Friday. In 2019 it felt different, there was an excitement that our team had. We ended up sweeping Maine on their home course and carried that momentum throughout the rest of the season.
You have earned a spot on the America East Academic Honor Roll, what does it take to have success in the classroom and on the track?
To be successful both on the track and in the classroom, it takes time management skills. Being able to set aside time for practice, time for classes and time for homework requires that when I am doing one task, that is the task that I am completely focused on.
OFF THE TRACK WITH JAMES:
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite TV show: Silicon Valley
Favorite Movie: The Blind Side
Favorite Food: Burritos
Favorite Snack: Spinach and Artichoke dip
Favorite Musical artist: Zac Brown Band
Favorite Pump-up song: "Come Sail Away" by Styx
Favorite Actor: Chris Pratt
Favorite Pro sports team: Celtics
Favorite Pro sports athlete: Larry Bird
Favorite Place on campus: Parsons Hall
Dream Job: Scientist in industry working in chemistry or materials science to develop new environmentally friendly materials or technologies
Check back each week to get to know two more Wildcats as part of the Service Credit Union Student-Athlete Spotlight. Thank you to Service Credit Union for sponsoring the Student-Athlete Spotlight.
Previous 2020-21 Student-Athlete Spotlights:
Kaja Sandsten (Women's Skiing) & Jonny Wolf (Men's Soccer)
Paige Edmier (Swimming & Diving) & Josh Hopkins (Men's Basketball)
Maddie Truax (Women's Ice Hockey) & Scott Schulz (Men's Skiing)
Héléna Delarulle (Women's Basketball) & Filip Engarås (Men's Ice Hockey)
Isabelle Danahy (Field Hockey) & Nate Hobbs (Men's Track and Field)
Sarah Williams (Women's Track and Field) & Alejandro Robles (Men's Soccer)
Casey Peterson (Women's Soccer) & Jordan Buckmire (Men's Track and Field)
Haley Lui (Gymnastics) & Linus Fallberg (Men's Soccer)
Julia Neyland (Women's Lacrosse) & Brian Carter (Football)
Grace Middleton (Women's Hockey) & Charlie Kelleher (Men's Hockey)
Lisa Olsson (Women's Ski) & Nick Guadarrama (Men's Basketball)
Kate Bilyeu (Women's Volleyball) & Patrick Kenney (Men's Skiing)
Faith Bonett (Women's Basketball) & Angus Crookshank (Men's Ice Hockey)
Ava Boutilier (Women's Hockey) & Aidan Sullivan (XC/Track & Field)
Bloem van den Brekel (Field Hockey) & Jacob Gould (Men's Soccer)
Special to UNHWildcats.com
Ava Schroeder of the women's lacrosse team and James Wilkes of the men's cross country and track and field teams are featured in this week's Service Credit Union Student-Athlete Spotlight.
Ava is from Niskayuna, N.Y. and is a sophomore midfielder for the women's lacrosse team. She is a remarkable student-athlete and earned a spot on the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll in her freshman year. Also as a freshman, she played in all five games and scored her first collegiate goal.
James is from Concord, N.H. and is a senior on the cross country and track and field teams. He is the captain for the cross country team. Wilkes earned second team All-Conference accolades for placing 12th at the 2019 America East Championship..He has also been named to the America East Academic Honor Roll.
Now let's get to know more about Ava and James.
Q&A WITH AVA:
What inspired you to play lacrosse?
I started playing in fifth grade because all my friends started to play. I was just doing it for fun at first. After a few years I realized how impactful this sport was on me. I created so many relationships with friends and coaches and many more, that I felt this was going to be a part of me for a long time. Ever since middle school I saw myself playing in college. And since then, I have loved playing!
What has been your favorite moment so far playing lacrosse at UNH?
My favorite moment so far was from last season. It was in the locker room before our away game at Dartmouth. Dartmouth was ranked 11th so we knew this was going to be a tough one. This was the last game we had before we got sent home because of COVID-19 last season. Before the game in the locker room everyone was getting hyped and dancing as we blasted music from the speakers. My friend played this rap song that I know every single word to and the song is like six minutes long. I got up in the middle of everyone and began singing it at the top of my lungs. Everyone was dancing and hyped up. It was a lot of fun and something I will always remember.
What was it like to score your first collegiate goal?
Scoring my first goal was unreal. We were playing Fairfield that game. I was set up for an eight-meter shot and with a blink of an eye the ball was in the back of the net. I threw my stick and jumped around all excited. Everyone came over to hug me and celebrate as it was my first goal. And at the beginning of the season, we pick a song to play for when we score. I picked "Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer and when that blasted through the stadium speakers, I knew it was a goal. For the rest of the game, I was all hyped.
What made you choose to come to UNH?
When I came on one of the visits looking at UNH, I was welcomed right away by the girls on the team and I was not even on the team yet. They had such a strong bond that you could see right away. I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. UNH has such a welcoming vibe to it all around I knew this was where I was supposed to be for the next four years.
OFF THE FIELD WITH AVA:
Favorite Color: Orange
Favorite TV Show: Friends
Favorite Movie: The Proposal
Favorite Food: Smoothie Bowls
Favorite Snack: Blueberries
Favorite Musical Artist: Kanye West or Juice Wrld
Favorite Pump-up song: "Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer or "Fergalicious" by Fergie
Favorite Actor: Ryan Reynolds or Brad Pitt
Favorite Pro Sports Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Favorite Pro Sports Athlete: Lindsey Vonn
Favorite Place on Campus: Wildcat Stadium
Dream Job: Athletic Trainer for an NHL team
Q&A WITH JAMES:
What does it mean to you to be named the team captain?
Being named a team captain is an affirmation of all the work I have done in my time at UNH, on and off the track. It means that my coaches see and appreciate leadership qualities that I have shown over the past few years.
How do you feel representing your home state?
Representing my home state is very rewarding. I get to put on the "New Hampshire" jersey every time I race and wear it with pride.
What has been your favorite cross country meet and why?
My favorite cross country meet was the dual meet we had with Maine my junior year. Normally, that meet is not the most exciting and people do not want to drive up to Orono on a Friday. In 2019 it felt different, there was an excitement that our team had. We ended up sweeping Maine on their home course and carried that momentum throughout the rest of the season.
You have earned a spot on the America East Academic Honor Roll, what does it take to have success in the classroom and on the track?
To be successful both on the track and in the classroom, it takes time management skills. Being able to set aside time for practice, time for classes and time for homework requires that when I am doing one task, that is the task that I am completely focused on.
OFF THE TRACK WITH JAMES:
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite TV show: Silicon Valley
Favorite Movie: The Blind Side
Favorite Food: Burritos
Favorite Snack: Spinach and Artichoke dip
Favorite Musical artist: Zac Brown Band
Favorite Pump-up song: "Come Sail Away" by Styx
Favorite Actor: Chris Pratt
Favorite Pro sports team: Celtics
Favorite Pro sports athlete: Larry Bird
Favorite Place on campus: Parsons Hall
Dream Job: Scientist in industry working in chemistry or materials science to develop new environmentally friendly materials or technologies
Check back each week to get to know two more Wildcats as part of the Service Credit Union Student-Athlete Spotlight. Thank you to Service Credit Union for sponsoring the Student-Athlete Spotlight.
Previous 2020-21 Student-Athlete Spotlights:
Kaja Sandsten (Women's Skiing) & Jonny Wolf (Men's Soccer)
Paige Edmier (Swimming & Diving) & Josh Hopkins (Men's Basketball)
Maddie Truax (Women's Ice Hockey) & Scott Schulz (Men's Skiing)
Héléna Delarulle (Women's Basketball) & Filip Engarås (Men's Ice Hockey)
Isabelle Danahy (Field Hockey) & Nate Hobbs (Men's Track and Field)
Sarah Williams (Women's Track and Field) & Alejandro Robles (Men's Soccer)
Casey Peterson (Women's Soccer) & Jordan Buckmire (Men's Track and Field)
Haley Lui (Gymnastics) & Linus Fallberg (Men's Soccer)
Julia Neyland (Women's Lacrosse) & Brian Carter (Football)
Grace Middleton (Women's Hockey) & Charlie Kelleher (Men's Hockey)
Lisa Olsson (Women's Ski) & Nick Guadarrama (Men's Basketball)
Kate Bilyeu (Women's Volleyball) & Patrick Kenney (Men's Skiing)
Faith Bonett (Women's Basketball) & Angus Crookshank (Men's Ice Hockey)
Ava Boutilier (Women's Hockey) & Aidan Sullivan (XC/Track & Field)
Bloem van den Brekel (Field Hockey) & Jacob Gould (Men's Soccer)
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Lacrosse
Distance
/ Men's Track & FieldThursday, November 12
Sunday, November 08
Sunday, November 08
Sunday, November 08