Four Sharks signed Letters of Intent Wednesday
If you can think of a sport, Kayla Blas has probably played it at some point in her life. Seven sports as a kid whittled down to three for high school.
For college, she’ll go with a sport that includes some of the best parts of several of her sports, electing to play Division I field hockey in the Big Ten.
Blas became the first player in Sacred Heart Academy history to sign a National Letter of Intent to play collegiate field hockey on Wednesday when she officially committed to Northwestern University.
“I really enjoy soccer and I really enjoy ice hockey,” she said. “Field hockey kind of puts the two together, that kind of sealed the deal for me.”
Blas scored nine goals and added 15 assists for the Sharks (8-2-1) in 2017. Next season, she’ll be the first to be able to show what SHA field hockey can do at the next level.
It’s definitely an honor,” she said. “I feel like our program has definitely grown since it started so I’m so I’m so seeing the students that are coming up also be able to do this.”
She’ll join another successful program at Northwestern. The Wildcats (14-6) are in the NCAA Tournament and will play Louisville on Saturday.
“I’m very excited. I can’t wait to start,” Blas said. “They really like to help develop their student-athletes and make them people that can change the world a couple years after college,” she said. “Northwestern just kind of called my name.”
Blas also played lacrosse at SHA and ice hockey for Monsignor Martin. She had also played travel soccer and softball – but also will choose field hockey.
She is a part of the USA Futures program and was on the National Futures Championships championship in 2015. Last year she was selected by Max Field Hockey as one of the next 50 athletes in the graduating class of 2018. She was selected to participate in the prestigious USA Field Hockey’s STX Select Tournament and Training Camp at the U19 level.
So she’s certainly shown she’s ready to tackle the next chapter in life – excelling at a top academic university and eying success on the field as well.
It will definitely be a challenge, especially playing a sport,” Blas said. “But I’m ready for that challenge to help my teammates chase some titles. “
Blas verbally agreed to attend Northwestern as a sophomore. Her commitment was made official on Wednesday in a ceremony in the school auditorium honoring college signees Blas, volleyball Lauren Aichinger (Clarion, Pa.), lacrosse player Gina Perna (Mercyhurst, Pa.) and basketball player Micaela Ryan (Elon, NC).
“Sacred Heart has definitely shaped me into the person that I am today and helped me achieve the goals I wanted to achieve, not just athletically but academically as well,” she said.
