Athlete of the Week: Bronwyn Shields

It’s hard to find a student more devoted to athletics than senior Bronwyn Shields. As a girls’ varsity field hockey captain, girls’ varsity lacrosse captain, lifeguard and gym proctor, she vigorously fills her days with physicality and athletics. Shields, in short, is an athlete extraordinaire.

Varsity lacrosse coach and English instructor Christina Breen said that Shields always keeps busy despite her full course load. “She’s really one of those kids who fills up her day with a lot of stuff, and she’s very determined to do it all,” Breen said.

The mindset that Shields lives with started back in middle school when she began playing field hockey. In Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, Shields joined the field hockey team after hearing that her favorite gym teacher was the coach. Her best friend’s decision to also join the team further enhanced her interest in the sport.

However, Shields admits that her main reason for joining the team was because of a boy she liked. “Honestly, I had a crush on this boy in middle school who thought field hockey was really cool from when we all had to play it in gym class,” she said. “So when he got into it I thought he’d think I was super cool if I started playing.”

Big Red girls’ field hockey owes that boy for Shields’ perhaps serendipitous encounter with the sport. Since her first day of prep year, Shields has been a significant asset to the team. Though she was as an underclassmen, she stepped into a leadership role and helped direct the team. 

Breen said that upon her joining the team her prep year, “[Shields] was already one of the strongest players.”

“[She] decided to a hundred percent dedicate herself to lacrosse. She’s spent so much time on the sport,” Breen said. “She’s the girl who has a lacrosse stick in her bag all the time, always practicing and playing.”

“It’s weird to think that I could look up to someone younger than me, but I definitely looked up to her work ethic,” Jessica Corcoran ’14 said.

Four years later, Shields continues to be remarkably dedicated to all her pursuits and spends her time planning team events and making sure every participant feels included. Breen explained that despite her many commitments, they do not detract from her energy or enthusiasm. “She is all about the team,” Breen said. “That’s her thing. She loved team gear and team dinners and psychs.”

As the only four-year field hockey player, Shields’ plate stays full. Unlike some who would shy away from this burden, Shields embraces it and assumes the role of the sympathetic leader.

“Every year is a different team and every year brings something new to the idea of Moxie,” Shields said. “As a captain, I really wanted to emulate that and even further enhance it to where I envision it. Moxie isn’t just a word, it’s, and this sounds very very cheesy but, it’s a feeling.”

Upper Bella Edo, who plays both lacrosse and field hockey with Shields, said that Shields goes out of her way to include every team member and make them feel welcome.

“She wants everyone around her to feel a part of the team,” Edo said. She went on to say that Shields gives each teammate a nickname, which, while “silly,” managed to make the inclusive nature clear. “It’s just one of those quirky things she does that everyone appreciates,” Edo said.

The quirks and bright attitude tie in effectively with the intense nature of the game. Senior Allegra Grant said that Shields balances a “serious and focused team dynamic” with one that is “fun and lighthearted” with ease, so that team members improve and play seriously without ever feeling unhappy or intimidated.

Field hockey coach Elizabeth Hurley, too, observed this attitude. She said that Shields “keeps the practice mood light but knows when to put her head down and work hard. She’s a good role model for younger athletes and is willing to do anything to stay on the fields and play.”

“She’s always so full of energy and constantly trying to put a smile on the faces of everyone around her,” Corcoran said. “When we were struggling through sprints, we knew to look to her to make us laugh and help us not take ourselves too seriously.”

Senior Julia Leatham explained that Shields has “encouraged me to push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of” and praised her work ethic. “Shields always works to better herself,” Leatham said. “She inspires people to work hard and care about what matters.”

In games, Breen said that Shields’ presence on the field is hard to miss.

“You know when [she’s] playing.” She said the Shields often acts as a “magnet” for the most dramatic and exciting game moments. “She runs my offense and calls the plays and is my on-field director. She seems to have that role in field hockey too.”

Breen attributed Shields’ strong abilities in part to her gift for communication, and said Shields is always attuned to plays and those around her.

“She’s this great communicator,” Breen said. “[She] speaks more than anyone else on the field.”

Upper Eloise Shields, sister and teammate of Shields, echoed this goal. She added that Shields, with her communication, affects her teammates off the field as well. “Not only is Bronwyn a wonderful sister, but she is truly a great teammate,” she said. “She pushes the team to everyone’s highest potential and never lets her teammates down, on and off the field. From day one, she is there for you on and off the field, which truly shows her dedication to making the team another family.”

A communicator both in field hockey and in school, Shields tries to make everyone feel positive after the matches, even after losses. Shields said that regardless of the outcome, she always hopes that every player will work hard enough that they will end each game knowing they’ve done their best, and accountability is key to success.

“I hope that everyone holds each other accountable for good things and bad things and that at the end of the day, even if someone makes a mistake on the field, she is not ashamed of that mistake,” Shields said.  “I want everyone to be proud of how she played and how the team played at the end of the day.”