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It is apparent to anyone who has watched Interboro's (Pa.,
outside Philadelphia) Gina Kearns
play hockey over the past four years that she is special.
Not
only was she unique because she was usually the only female on the ice for
the Bucs, but because she has phenomenal talent and
understanding of the game.
Pony tail hanging out of
her helmet or not, Kearns proved she could not only hang with the boys on the
ice, but that she was one of the nation's top female players.
For her hard-work, talent and dedication, Kearns became the first female hockey player to accept a full-scholarship
from Boston University.
"It's disappointing that my high school career has ended, but I am
getting excited to go up to Boston," said Kearns, who also plays club hockey for the Princeton Tiger Lillies. "It will be sad to leave the guys (from Interboro) and the girls (from her club team) behind, but
I have an amazing experience ahead of me."
Kearns is quick to acknowledge that part of the reason she
has had so much success is the support she got from her family. Her father
Rich, mother Dee, brother Rich, who was an excellent player for Interboro, and twin sister, Renee, were always there to
help her along the way.
"They've been amazing with the way that they have supported me,"
said Kearns, who finished the season with 14 goals and 24
assists for 38 points in 23 games for Interboro.
"With all of the practices, games and tournaments, I just can't thank
them enough."
Another factor in Kearns' success is she got to watch her friend and former
club teammate, Penncrest grad Vicky Graham, go from
playing high school hockey against the boys to the top level of collegiate
women's hockey. Graham, a sophomore at Quinnipiac, has been outstanding for
the Bobcats and thinks Kearns will be able to make the adjustment to college
hockey next season.
"I believe playing in high school and on a club team with the Quakers
helped me tremendously because it had me playing at a high level of
hockey," said Graham, who had 13 points in 33 games this season
according to Quinnipiac's Web site and has 42
points in 67 career games. "The speed of the game playing with the guys
is much faster then playing with girls at the D-I level.
"In guys hockey you have to be ready at all times and have your head up
because there is always going to be someone right near you at all times and
if you're not aware, you're going to get rocked. There is also no hitting in
girls hockey, but there are more slashing, holding and roughing penalties. I
think Gina will adjust to the transition from playing with Interboro and the Tiger Lillies
quite well.
When playing D-I, time management is probably the biggest thing because you
are meeting new people in college and they want to do some things you don't
have time for because of traveling, team commitments and study hours."
Graham, who did a postgraduate year at the National Sports Academy, is also looking forward to lacing the skates up
with Kearns one more time at the Keystone Games this summer.
"I am happy that I keep in touch with her because I still consider her
my linemate and we're going to play together one
last time in the 2005 Keystone Games," Graham said. "Being the
first girl to sign for B.U. is a great thing for Gina."
For Kearns, Graham's input and support was important in the
whole recruiting process.
"We still keep in contact," Kearns said. "She and her parents were a big help throughout the whole
process. Vicky told me what questions to ask and things like that and I think
that made it a lot easier on me."
The experience of playing against the boys was invaluable for a few reasons
to Kearns. The speed and intensity of games she experienced
playing in the Eastern High School Hockey League (EHSHL) will surely benefit Kearns on the next level, but those factors also helped her develop her
playmaking skills.
"I always felt like the boys were gunning for me out there and I think
sometimes it made them feel better if they hit me, but I knew if they were
coming after me that one of my teammates would be open and that I could get a
pass off to them," said Kearns. "The guys on my team always looked
out for me, too, so that helped."
Kearns has clearly left her mark on Delco and should be
able to make an impact for the Terriers during her college career. More
importantly, however, is the fact she was able to keep an even-keeled
demeanor, a great sense of humor, and maintain her hard-working style despite
all of the accolades that were thrust upon her.
That behavior may be more of a testament to her upbringing, but with so many
spoiled and immature athletes ranging from Little League to the big leagues,
it is refreshing to see one who fully appreciates everything she has earned
and is still humble and intelligent enough to know she must keep working at
the same level of intensity to take her game to the collegiate level.
"The girls will be bigger and faster in college and I'll have to keep
working to get ready for that," Kearns said. "I think the speed and physicality of the high school
game helped get me ready for that, but I know I am going to have to keep
working to improve."
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