Balancing Bashore

When IU's academic year began three weeks ago, classes were far from the No. 1 priority of senior Kayla Bashore. She had flights to catch in Bloomington, Boston and Virginia Beach, multiple games to play for multiple teams and, of course, class work.\nNot exactly a smooth start to the school year.\nBut knowing the hectic first week was the result of making the U.S. National Field Hockey Team eased her stress level quite a bit. \nBashore, a co-captain of this year's Hoosier squad, is the first IU field hockey player to ever play with the U.S. National Team. Members of the national team also comprise the majority of players on the U.S. Olympic and World Cup teams.\nBashore played in a series of test matches against Canada beginning Aug. 29 and ending with an Aug. 31 game, one in which she started. Selections for the official team will be formally announced at the end of the collegiate field hockey season, but Bashore's invitation to play in the matches puts her on the fast track to officially being added to the permanent roster.\n"When they asked me to play with them in those games, I was very excited since this is something I would like to pursue for a couple of years. At least until qualifying games for the Olympics," Bashore said. \nWhile the IU field hockey season is ongoing, Bashore won't be working with the national team again until the season is completely over. The break should ensure stress relief for Bashore. When this is all taking place, she traveled directly from Boston to Virginia Beach after IU played Northeastern University, and then from Virginia Beach to North Carolina to meet up with her team as they prepared to play Appalachian State and Wake Forest. \n"The traveling was definitely hectic, and I was a little fatigued, but I was glad to have the opportunity and it was a great experience," Bashore said. \nAlthough Bashore's play with the national team didn't conflict with any IU matches, it caused her to miss a few practices. Head coach Amy Robertson was more than willing to allow her star player to miss in exchange for the experience of playing on a national stage. \n"Kayla has everything you could possibly want in a player, and she has high expectations for herself, and I think she has a huge future with a national team that could compete in the next Olympics," Robertson said. \nBashore first made a name for herself on the national level while playing in a Midwest regional league. Her performance garnered her an invitation to play for the U.S. Under 21 National team, which in turn brought her to the attention of current U.S. National team head coach Lee Bodimeade and assistant coach Nick Conway. \nBashore achieved national recognition despite not playing at all last season, choosing to redshirt in 2004 in order to devote herself fully to studying for the MCATs. \n"Kayla didn't want to go fifty percent on field hockey or her dream of becoming a doctor, so she decided to take a year off to concentrate on studying," Robertson said. "She pushes herself more than any other individual I know." \nAlthough Bashore's long-term career aspirations rest in medicine, she doesn't think focusing on international field hockey for the next several years will deter her from her dream.\n"Medical school will always be there if I choose so, but I knew I would regret passing up this opportunity," Bashore said. \nConway concurred with Bashore's sentiments.\n"Playing international field hockey is the highest honor an athlete in our sport can achieve," Conway said. "Most athletes get to play college hockey at some level, however only the cream of the crop get an opportunity to play on the international stage"