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05/23/2023 01:39 PMAva Huntley has a motor in her that will never stop running when it comes to her athletic experiences, and it was that foresight to see the next challenge along the road that pushed her past arguably the biggest hurdle of her lacrosse career.
The North Haven girls’ lacrosse team senior captain and defensive midfielder played basketball from fourth to eighth grade. Trying her hand at softball and dance additionally, she first picked up a lacrosse stick as a freshman, though due to COVID, her first full foray with the sport was delayed until her sophomore season.
Following an ACL tear late last spring as a junior, Ava fought through a difficult rehab process that tested her physical and mental limits to earn the nod as a squad captain this year for the Nighthawks.
“I have always been doing something my entire life. I love staying active and being up and around,” says Ava. “Getting back from the ACL tear was one of the hardest things I have had to do in my life. The recovery period was so frustrating; the surgery was in the summer, so I could not get around much. But in physical therapy, I saw what was ahead of me for senior year, and that is what motivated me. I learned I was named captain the day of my surgery, which really drove me to get back to the player I was before the injury.”
Ava has always assumed a particular pride on the defensive end of the field. While it may not be the position that racks up all the highlights or the style stats, she loves the tussle of trying to take down a potent and powerful offense.
“I have always gravitated towards defense. I like having a big responsibility in a game, and so I like to take charge of the defense,” Ava says. “It does not matter what the other team has on offense as long as you can shut them down. I do not handle the ball a lot, but I have improved upon handling the ball and running with it. As a defensive wing, I have to get the ball back up the field to the offense after a save. I have gained more confidence in doing that because it’s my job. I have also improved on protecting my stick so I do not get checked.”
While showing tremendous tenacity at defense on the field, Ava has a captain’s uncanny knack to read the room and mood of her teammates and collaborate accordingly with Head Coach Bernie Pellegrino. It is a symbiotic relationship between Ava and her peers, as they were clutch to help her return to action following the ACL tear.
“Ava has been a valuable member of the program for the past four years. As a defensive midfielder she is quick, agile and decisive. When there is a play to be made, she is aggressive to the ball and can use her stick with laser-like precision,” says Pellegrino. “I know her to be very diverse in her interests and is an excellent student, involved in many extracurricular events. She is very expressive and well spoken. She is never at a loss for words. You can open almost any discussion and she is quick to chime in. As a coach, I know that I do and I am quick to reach out to her if I need some insight into what the emotional sentiment of the team may be. She has also overcome adversity to return to the team this year as a captain after tearing her ACL toward the end of her junior year. The support she has given to her teammates in the past paid dividends as they were quick to help her return to the lineup this year. The hesitancy in those freshman eyes was a thing of the distant past as she worked tirelessly to make her comeback a success this season.”
As Ava tries to find and recall her biggest incentives with on-the-field performance, she says that when the clock hits zero, she wants to reflect on the game with a tremendous sense of pride–regardless of the final numbers on the scoreboard.
“I am motivated by the fact that I want to say I was proud of myself and what I put out there,” says Ava. “Even if we are down in a game by a lot, I know that if I put 100% effort into it, I will feel better and be proud of how I played. I also use that motivation to encourage my teammates.”
Understandably and expectedly honored and humbled to be selected amongst her peers to be captain, Ava has jumped at the chance to leave behind a positive impact and legacy at North Haven in addition to the opportunity towards strengthening her verbal skill set.
“I was beyond excited to be named captain. When I was younger, I would see the past captains and always thought about what I would do as captain in situations,” says Ava. “It has given me the chance to leave something good behind. I also gained a lot of skills with communication and leading others. I know I need to be the one to tell the girls we are still in a game. It has been a beneficial experience for me.”
When it comes to college, the game of lacrosse will always stay with Ava–even if it is in a more limited and toned-down capacity. Lastly, she explains that the culture around the Nighthawks has been one of enrichment and encouragement–and the proof is in the pudding with team turnout.
“I am beyond excited to go to college. I want to do medical school after my undergraduate career. I want to get involved in college athletically, too, and I will do some club lacrosse likely,” Ava says. “I have nothing but good things to say about North Haven lacrosse. There is never any drama here; it has always been an amazing and positive experience. It kept me in shape, and it was the perfect amount of exercise and being involved in a school team and activity and not being too much. The coaches are so encouraging about everything and with everyone. We had about 45 kids in the program this year, and those numbers show the great environment here.”