VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Rylee Booth-Brooks doesn't necessarily have a set position on the First Colonial field hockey team.
"I think Riley just wants to play the game, like she loves the game so much. If that's her playing left back, center back, center forward, right mid. Wherever it is, she's fine with it because she's able to play the game that she loves."
Brooks-Booth's love for the game means she's happy to play any position, as long as she's on the field. That versatility allowed FC to change their lineup as the season progressed, according to First Colonial head coach Meghan Smart.
"We had her center forward all year last year. Things were continuing to grow in the season, people were getting better, people were moving into different positions, we were playing tougher games going into playoffs," says Smart, "So putting Rylee in that midfield last year, we need someone strong there. We have forwards that are getting better, so let's put her in that playmaker position which would be that center midfield position, and she adapted really well for us."
The lineup changes worked, with the Patriots winning a region championship and going all the way to the state title game. For Rylee, she added 9 assists to her 19 goals.
That love for the game began almost immediately for Brooks-Booth.
"I did not start playing until my 6th great year, it was all because my Mom played in high school and she thought it would be a fun sport for me to try. After I picked up a stick I knew that this was what I wanted to do," says Brooks-Booth, "I did countless hours of practicing and working super hard to get to the point where I am now."
Rylee says some of that work was with Mom, as the two worked on technique. "Every few weekends we will come out to the field and practice together. That's when she helps me get down the right hitting form and the difference of being low vs. being up right and how big that can effect my play."
Dad would work with Rylee as well, using his background in baseball to build work ethic. "He played D1 baseball at Radford, so he knows the in's and out's of college athletics, how you have to work. He's always been pushing me just the same as my Mom pushes me."
With the help of her family, Rylee has become one of the best players in Hampton Roads and is committed to play at the University of Massachusetts next year. We have a feeling that whatever position they ask her to play, she'll be ok with.
