After capturing the 2001 Big Ten Championship in field hockey, the Spartans added four highly-ranked recruits to next year’s roster.
Head coach Michele Madison, the 2001 Big Ten Coach of the Year, will welcome in two athletes from Delaware and one each from Ohio and California.
Maggie Giddens, Michelle Huynh-ba, Megan Kunk and Jessica Miller all signed national letters of intent to play at MSU.
Madison could not be reached for comment because she’s in South Africa serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Team.
Huynh-ba was a first team all-state selection from Delaware and led St. Marks High School in scoring with 16 goals. She said she likes the idea of coming to a big school and coming to a new environment, adding she likes the way MSU practices and what the coach has to offer.
“They don’t just run, they run during drills, and I liked that,” Huynh-ba said. “Coach Madison doesn’t seem like most other coaches, because she wants to know what I’m about.”
Huynh-ba said she really didn’t think about staying out East, because MSU has more than just a good field hockey team.
“When I talked to the directors of education, they really seemed to know what they were talking about,” she said.
Kunk is the 2001 Player of the Year in Ohio and racked up 28 goals, earning an all-state selection. She played forward for Bishop Watterson High School, the same school that produced current sophomore midfielder Alexandra Kyser.
“I see MSU as a successful program,” Kunk said. “I see myself coming in and contributing. I think I’ll help with my dedication and hard work.”
Kunk said she chose MSU because it provides a place for her to excel as both a student and an athlete.
The Ohio native was recruited by Ohio State, Connecticut and Ohio.
The close relationships between players on the team also played a part in her decision to come to MSU.
Giddens is Delaware’s 2001 Player of the Year and an All-America selection. She attended Tower Hill High School, the No. 1 field hockey program in the state.
Miller is the 2001 Player of the Year in Southern California while playing for La Costa Canyon High School.
Field hockey assistant coach Rolf van de Kerkhof said the Big Ten Championship did play a factor, but it wasn’t the biggest one.
“I think it shows that we are a top ten program in the nation and they’ll help us stay there,” van de Kerkhof said.
“They’ll bring a lot of energy, speed and field hockey knowledge. Most of them have been playing for a long time and they understand the game at a very high level.”
