Becky Stiles: Going Out In Stiles
10/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
By Hanna Sprague, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant
Four years ago, Michigan State head coach Helen Knull pushed into the "hot bed" of field hockey in Medford, New Jersey, to recruit the hometown standout. In her time at Michigan State, starting midfielder Becky Stiles has proven to be nothing short of phenomenal on and off the field.
Stiles, who got her first grip on the field hockey stick in third grade, can remember learning from her coach, role model, and arguably biggest fan - her mom. Stiles cherished moments practicing in the front yard alongside her mom, who played field hockey at Rider College.
"She was always stuck on `practice how you play' and that always sticks, even today," said Stiles. "I can remember her saying that when I was in third grade, so to still hear her when I'm on the field every day is pretty awesome."
The Stiles family has attended nearly all of Michigan State's field hockey games throughout the last four years. Neither the three-hour flight nor the 10 hour drive from New Jersey kept the Stiles family from missing Big Ten action.
"They drive or they'll fly, but they have always gotten here," said Stiles. "I can't begin to tell you how much their support means to me."
Stiles, who received seemingly endless athletic recognitions in high school, assures that it was the group of people around her who made it all worthwhile.
"High school [field hockey] was fun because of the group of girls that I was with," said Stiles. I didn't want that to end. When I came on campus here, the girls reminded me of the teammates I had back home."
A self-described homebody, Stiles' family and friends were shocked when she announced that she'd be spending her collegiate career in the Midwest.
"I came out here for my visit and I literally fell in love with it," said Stiles. "I came with some of my club teammates and they told me I never stopped smiling the entire time I was on campus."
The smiles continued for Stiles as years of practice and dedication to the game of field hockey paid off in 2012. Selected to represent the United States, Stiles traveled with the U21 Junior National Field Hockey Squad to compete in the Junior Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.
"To wear the red, white, and blue was a really amazing privilege," said Stiles. "It was a whole different level. The game was fast and I learned a ton just from playing with some of the best players in the world."
Stiles missed five games for Michigan State in September of 2012 due to her participation in the Junior Pan American Games, but was still selected to the second-team Longstreth / National Field Hockey Coaches (NFHCA) Division I All-West Region squad.
The opportunity was familiar to Stiles, who traveled to London with the U21 team in 2011.
"I learned how to demand excellence from myself and my teammates from watching others play," said Stiles. "It's cool to have that group of friends around the world."
Flashing forward to her senior year at Michigan State, Stiles has instilled a new confidence in herself and her team.
"I'm so confident in this team this year and I know we can do big things," said Stiles, who was named Academic All-Big Ten and Second Team All-Big Ten in 2013. "It doesn't matter that Rutgers and Maryland came into the Big Ten. Yes, they're good, but we are strong."
As her four years have progressed, Stiles says she has had a complete change in mindset. Her confidence has pushed her to become one of this team's strongest leaders.
"The coaches, the players, the atmosphere on the team - we're a family," said Stiles. "A Spartan family. That's huge."
When Stiles thinks of the future she imagines herself coaching field hockey at the youth level, just like her mom has done. Plans beyond that are yet to be decided, but Stiles is certain the right opportunity will find her.
"It's scary how fast it goes by," said Stiles. "It's such a privilege to be here, I thank God every day for it. At the end of the day you have to live life to the fullest and put our future in God's hands."
As graduation nears, Stiles reflects on the people who made her the athlete and the person she is today: her coaches, her teammates, and her family.
"They have helped me throughout," said Stiles. "Times that have been down for me, they have built me up. My coaches, my teammates, and my family have made this whole experience amazing."
