Margaret Kraus
Sports Editor
The Spartan Speaks girls’ athlete of the month is hockey player Celia Whittington. Whittington used to live on the lake, where her dad would shovel snow off the lake to make a rink for her and her brothers; here, they learned how to skate, and began playing hockey at age five. She joined the girls’ varsity team freshman year.
Each day of practice begins with skating, and later taking shots on goal. Later in the practice, the team works on drills together. Whittington said the team has been working really well together this year and that this is her favorite team she has been a part of. “Everyone just gets along. It’s just a really good year,” Whittington said.
The games are Whittington’s favorite part of hockey. “I just really like working with my team and my line. It’s fun to make good plays and score,” Whittington said.
After every game the team wins, they play their ‘win song’: “Everytime We Touch” by Cascada. The team hangs out in the locker room after each game and listen to the coaches give a recap of each game, and what the team can do better for the next game or what the team did well during the game.
So far this season, Whittington has scored six goals (out of six shots on goal) and assisted an additional six goals, for a total of 12 points, according to Minnesota Girls’ Hockey Hub (as of Dec. 16). Before every game, she tapes her stick and never forgets to wear a headband. Her personal goal for this season is to improve as a player, work hard, and have fun.
She says her favorite memory of this season is when they didn’t play well during the first period of the game, and the coach came into the locker room before the second period to hype them up for the rest of the game. He told freshman Mae Grandy to smile because he needed to see a smile from someone and she made a goofy face which brightened the mood of the entire team and everyone played much better the rest of the game.
Looking back at the past 11 years of her hockey career, Whittington says she has learned how to be a team player and to have a positive attitude. “Sometimes we’ll have a bad game but you just have to stay positive,” Whittington said.
Her advice to younger players is to work their hardest. “Work hard, no matter what. Even if nobody is watching you, it’s the only way to get better,” Whittington said.
When asked if Whittington plans to continue hockey in college, she says she is still unsure. “If the right opportunity comes along, I’d consider it. I probably would only play Division III if I did end up playing,” Whittington said.
Besides hockey, Whittington is highly involved in her church, and attends Wednesday programs regularly. She also enjoys going on mission trips with other members of her church.