*Please Note: This was originally published on GoLHU.com*
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Deana Campbell is a senior at Lock Haven and a member of the field hockey program. Campbell came to The Haven in 2021 and has made a name for herself on and off the field.
Campbell has been a part of the Division I field hockey team for the past four years. She worked her way up to a starting spot on the roster after not playing her first year and dealing with injuries her sophomore year.
“My freshman year, I didn’t play at all,” Campbell said. “It was a big learning point for me, which was helpful. And then my sophomore year, I had a back injury, so I was out again. That was tough mentally because I was not playing the sport I came to college to do, and my life revolved around field hockey at that point.”
Fast forward to her junior and senior seasons, Campbell was named a starter and a team captain. In her junior season, Campbell appeared in 16 games finishing with one goal and one assist.
Campbell’s role as a captain has helped her become a leader for her teammates.
“To be a captain has helped me form into a role of a leader. I’ve always been a leader, but I also feel like I can relate to the team well, which is helpful. I don’t want them ever to feel like they’re by themselves. A lot of them come to me for anything from field hockey to school to things outside of field hockey, which is nice for me to be able to connect with them on more of a bigger level than just field hockey.”
Off the field, Campbell is well-known across the Lock Haven campus. She is the student representative on the Alumni board and is the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
In addition, Campbell is one of many student workers at Lock Haven’s Student Rec Center (SRC) and hosts workout classes every Monday and Wednesday at 10 a.m.
“Growing up, I worked at a spin studio in high school,” Campbell said. “I loved watching the instructors teach and I loved taking those classes. When I started working at Lock Haven’s student recreation center, I spent all my time there and started teaching classes. [Teaching workout classes] has let me make new friends and talk to people. Even people that don’t come to classes reach out often and ask for advice on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”
Academically, Campbell will graduate in May with her master’s degree in Sports Management. Over the summer, she interned with the Williamsport Crosscutters, a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. Campbell was the food and beverage intern with the Crosscutters, something she’d never done before but used her experience of being a volunteer in the Lock Haven athletic department as a guide.
“I enjoyed my time there. I got the experience at Lock Haven with how things work behind the scenes, getting things prepared for game days, and putting in hard work,” she added.
The field hockey team is back in action on Friday, Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. when it travels to Saint Joseph’s University for an Atlantic-10 Conference game. You can catch next catch Deana and the Lock Haven field hockey team at home on Friday, Oct. 11 at 3 p.m. as they host Richmond in a conference match. The game will serve as the Breast Cancer Awareness Game.
