Kucharczyk Welcomes Challenge of Two Teams

Nina Kucharczyk puts a new spin on being busy, even for a Harvard student. Aside from balancing classes, clubs, and a social life, the New York native is competing on not one, but two varsity athletic teams. Officially recruited for lacrosse, Kucharczyk recently joined the field hockey team as a walk-on after participating in a few practices with the Crimson squad.

The key to her success—love for sports.

“Nina just loves to play,” Kucharczyk’s mother said of the freshman. “That’s what sets her apart. She’s not the most talented player, but she is the most competitive and passionate.”

During high school Kucharczyk was also a multi-sport athlete, playing field hockey and lacrosse, as well as running indoor track.

When the multi-sport standout arrived at Harvard, she intended to focus on lacrosse. But due to the field hockey team’s small size, Harvard coach Sue Caples issued an open invitation to those athletes with experience in the sport to join the team for some full-field scrimmages. After trying it out, Kucharczyk realized this was a chance she couldn’t pass up.

“Coach Caples approached me after a scrimmage and offered a spot on the team,” Kucharczyk said. “This was such a great opportunity that I might never have had at another place.”

Danielle Gallagher, Kucharczyk’s high school lacrosse coach, and Steve Sproul, her high school field hockey and indoor track coach, are not surprised by her decision to play two sports.

“It’s tough for college kids to play more than one sport,” Gallagher said. “But Nina is such a well-balanced person, and is able to have competitiveness not only on the field, but in the classroom and in life.”

“During high school,” Sproul recalled, “Nina was training for the Indoor National Track and Field meet while practicing and competing in varsity lacrosse. She was able to do both exceptionally well, which is not something many athletes can manage.”

Nina feels the pressure of her new commitment to two varsity sports, but is not worried about coping.

“The Ivy League makes [playing two sports] do-able.” Kucharczyk said. “I’ll be busy of course, but it’s manageable. The coaches and my teammates are great, and have been really supportive and welcoming.”

Kucharczyk’s Harvard teammates, from both field hockey and lacrosse, appreciate her drive.

“The fact that Nina is playing two varsity sports while still going to school at Harvard shows the kind of person she is,” said junior lacrosse player Jess Halpern. “She is a really hard and great worker...and has already improved in the two months she’s been here.”

“Obviously being able to step on the field hockey team so late in the season is a difficult thing to do,” said field hockey co-captain Elizabeth Goodman-Bacon, “but [Nina] has already been a great asset and has fit in seamlessly. It’s a testament to her character and athleticism that she is able to balance two Division I athletic teams.”

Kucharczyk’s athleticism is evident from the moment she takes the field, especially through her aggression and speed.

“[Nina’s] one of the toughest athletes I’ve ever coached.” Sproul said. “She’s always game ready…and never quits. She’s one of those athletes who gives 100 percent effort whether she’s competing against the toughest or weakest opponent.”

Gallagher described an occasion in Kucharczyk’s senior lacrosse season that portrayed her athleticism and competitive spirit in “a nut shell.”

The team was taking one of its biggest rivals and, as a defender, Kucharczyk would have the opportunity to match up against West Babylon High School’s best player. But, when her opponent was held out with an injury, Gallagher noted her star player’s disappointment.

“Nina was physically upset because she couldn’t guard the best player and shut her down.” Gallagher said. “In her eyes, that was her job...That’s exactly the kind of competitor she is. She never backs down from any challenge, and goes full throttle in every practice and game.”

While Kucharczyk clearly possesses the fire to compete in Division I, she still faces the challenge of learning the technicalities of both sports—the plays, the rules, and the formations—in an environment where most of her teammates focus on just one skill set.

“Our coach is adamant about [freshmen] gaining the new information to play at a more physical college level.” Halpern said. “Nina is taking in all the information and is putting it to her game.”

“[Nina] has been working as hard as she possibly can to learn the technicalities of field hockey in the last month,” Goodman-Bacon said. “She has a great positive attitude and perseveres through everything.”

Kucharczyk knows this positive attitude is essential for success.

“To be an athlete at this stage, you really have to be driven to win.” Kucharczyk said. “I don’t have the stick skills of the other girls on the field hockey team, but I definitely want to win and am willing to work my butt off to make that possible.”

With such a drive to win and a love for sports, Kucharczyk willingly accepts the difficulties of a busy schedule, and has the potential to not only manage, but to thrive.

Above all, she keeps her mother’s advice for success in mind: “At a place like Harvard with so many choices, you just have to love what you do, and you’ll do it well.”