Sandoval selected to regional hockey team
GILROY – One week before her freshman year, Karlie Sandoval went to a field hockey clinic and picked up some basic skills.
She then strapped on her older sister’s cleats and tried out for the Gilroy High field hockey team. Although she was just a beginner, Sandoval immediately impressed her coaches and was selected to the varsity team.
“We knew she was a varsity player from the get-go,” Coach Adam Gemar said. “By the end of her first year, we knew she had a spark of greatness.”
After her sophomore season, the All-League midfielder refined her skills even more and others began to take notice. Sandoval headed down to San Diego for tryouts for the regional field hockey team and despite playing with more experienced stickhandlers, became Gilroy High’s first ever regional player.
“Overall, I thought I did pretty well (at the tryouts,” said Sandoval, who was not selected last season and was not sure if she would make it this year. “I was so happy.”
Her hard work and dedication to perfect the sport had paid off. She was one of only 15 players selected to the regional team out of a field of 100 players.
“It’s exciting that she’s going,” said Gemar, who heads up both the Gilroy High varsity team and the Infinity club team along with his wife, Erin Gemar. “Karlie hasn’t missed one practice we’ve called. She’s been 100 plus. Just her dedication and work ethic is incredible.”
Sandoval, now a member of Team San Diego, will compete against 11 other regional teams in a national tournament June 29-July 4 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She has a chance to be selected to the national team and compete against other countries.
“If I could do that, I would be so happy,” said Sandoval, who used to practice her stickhandling in her bedroom until she got it right. “I just remember wanting to learn more and more and more and wanting to get better.”
Sandoval is not done learning yet. She still practices her stickhandling every chance she gets, and she still has two more high school seasons ahead of her.
“I’ve seen how much I’ve grown since last year. I’m two different players,” Sandoval said.
