Ever since Emily Cummings picked up a field hockey stick at the age of eight, she has emerged as a force on the turf. A redshirt senior from Johnson City, N.Y., she has proven to be an essential team member for the Demon Deacon field hockey team. Cummings has scored a total of 11 goals in her time at Wake Forest. Cummings started her career off strong, scoring a total of six goals her freshman season. However, a stress fracture her sophomore year left Cummings sidelined for most of the season. However, Cummings battled her injury and rested during the off season, coming back strong and proving to be a tremendous asset for the Deacs in her junior year. Cummings has scored a total of three goals this season, all of which occurred in the Deacs? 7-1 victory over Delaware. Before completing her degree in Studio Art, Cummings hopes to lead Wake to success in the ACC, as well as ending the season by qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.
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When did you start playing field hockey?
I started playing field hockey in the third grade. My high school coach hosted a youth program for the elementary and middle school students in the community. At that point I was more into softball. I didn?t really start to play until the seventh grade when I joined the Central New York Travel Team.
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Did you play any other sports besides field hockey in high school?
Besides field hockey, I played basketball and lacrosse. My softball dream ended pretty quickly. I figured out that I liked running more than standing. My favorite part of softball was running around the bases. So I switched to sports such as field hockey, basketball and lacrosse that involved more running and movement.
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Why did you decide to come to Wake Forest?
Besides Wake Forest, I looked into Old Dominion and Drexel, but Wake was always my top choice.
I loved the small school atmosphere, in addition to the big Division I atmosphere.
Wake participates in the Atlantic Coast Conference, along with many other tough competitors, and you can?t get a better education than Wake.
The classes are small and the students can establish a personal relationship with their teachers.
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Who is your biggest inspiration?
My biggest inspiration is my mother. Unfortunately, she died of breast cancer when I was a senior in high school. She taught me how to fight and she taught me how to be happy while being faced with adversity. She wanted me to get everything I could.
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What is your role within the team?
I am kind of like the utility person. I have played every position that there is: forward, midfield and the backline.
I started out this season as a midfield and then moved to a forward. I played midfield in high school.
I started off in the backfield my sophomore year. One time, I even played every position during the game.
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How would you describe your team?s dynamic?
We are really close as a team. We all like to hang out with each other as much as we can, on and off the field. We love to joke around and we all love hockey. We are all in it together.
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What was your first game like as a Demon Deacon??
My first game as a Demon Deacon was against our arch-rivals, the University of North Carolina.
I started off the game playing on the black line. I was luckily able to stop every ball that came my way, but they just kept trickling over the sideline. I didn?t know what to do. Coach Jen took me out and threw me back in the game as a forward minutes later. I dove in the circle and scored our only goal. We tied UNC 1-1. I felt incredible.
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What are your personal and team goals for the rest of the season?
My personal goal is to play every game like it?s my last, because it basically is. My goal for the team is to make it to the ACCs. That?s what we are fighting for right now.
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What has been your greatest challenge at Wake?
My greatest challenge was opening up to people and getting to know people on a personal level. When I came here I didn?t really talk to anyone. I am a pretty shy person.
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If you could offer words of wisdom to the incoming student-athletes, what would you tell them?
It is not just about playing your sport, but it is also about your education and expanding your relationships within the entire Wake community.
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As a senior in your final year at the university, do you find that you?ve put more pressure on yourself to excel?
Yeah, definitely. I realized that school doesn?t last forever. I am finally going to have to find a job. I need to give everything my best effort, especially field hockey.
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What are your plans after Wake Forest?
My plans are still up in the air. I either want to work in sports advertising, become a field hockey coach, or maybe even go into culinary arts. I am not quite sure.
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What are you going to miss most about Wake Forest?
I am going to miss all the people here. Everyone I have met along my journey has helped me grow as a person.
It?s going to be tough going into the real world and having to make all new friends. I am going to miss the family that I have created here.
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