University of North Carolina Athletics
Shelton Reflects On Olympic Experience
August 3, 2016 | Field Hockey
North Carolina field hockey coach Karen Shelton has a unique perspective on the Olympic Games. As a player, she was a member of two U.S. teams: the 1980 team that boycotted the Games and the 1984 team that competed in Los Angeles and won a bronze medal, the country's highest finish ever. As the UNC coach, she has watched current and former players compete. This year's U.S. squad includes five former Tar Heels – Jackie Briggs, Rachel Dawson, Katelyn Falgowski, Kelsey Kolojejchick and Caitlin Van Sickle – among the 16 roster spots.
Shelton, heading into her 36th season as the Tar Heels' coach, recently chatted with GoHeels.com about the Olympics in Rio.
GoHeels: This year's U.S. team heads into the Games ranked fifth in the world. What do you think the squad's prospects are?
Shelton: “I'm optimistic for the team – they've made great strides in the past four years since the London Olympics. They have a new coaching staff and have worked incredibly hard together to make significant progress. They finished fourth at the World Cup (in 2014) and third at the Champions Trophy that just occurred. Those are impressive finishes.
“The coach staff has done outstanding work with the team – head coach Craig Parnham, assistant coach Janneke Schopman and I have to add Dave Hamilton, their strength and fitness coach. The training they've done, the rest and recovery, it's all tied together and the results are incredibly impressive.
“And the team has worked so hard. They have a team unity that is unique and I know they're excited about this opportunity.”
GH: Did you give your former players any advice heading into the Games? Did you see them before they departed?
Shelton: Grant [Fulton] and I took them to dinner in Pennsylvania right after the team was named, along with Emily Wold and Loren Shealy, who are also on the national team. I'm so proud of them and happy for them, but I haven't given them any advice. They've been training together, they feel confident in their preparation and they don't need any advice from me. But I have told them how proud the University of North Carolina is and the Athletic Department is of their achievement and that we're all pulling for them and going to be cheering from afar. My regret is that I can't get there – In London in 2012 I was able to go and support the team, but this time the hockey competition starts three days before our UNC preseason so it just made it impossible to get there.”
GH: Why do you think UNC has been so well-represented on Olympic teams over the years?
Shelton: “I'm not sure exactly. I would like to think it is our preparation, but more importantly the love and passion for the game that our players have. Within our program – and I don't know that this is different at other programs – we've always had such great success at the national team level and we celebrate that. I think young players coming up recognize that. This desire to represent your country and feel that pride doing it is instilled here. Hopefully a discipline is also instilled that allows them to make the next step. We play at a high level and the ACC is a proven training ground – we're playing in the best league in the country. We also have very talented players in our program. I think it's a combination of things and whatever it is, I want to keep it going.
“I also like the fact that we have such great representation at the next level, the Under-21 level, and our recruiting is going great. The Carolina field hockey program and our pipeline to the national team is on solid ground.”
GH: What are your strongest Olympic memories?
Shelton: “My most memorable moment was in the actual opening ceremony of the 1984 Games. That opening ceremony in L.A. was when it hit me how special it is to represent your country at an Olympic Games. You're an Olympian for the rest of your life. I've taken great pride in that and I have a bond with all the other Olympians. I was picked for two Olympic teams, but Rachel Dawson and Katelyn Falgowski are now three time Olympians. That is an incredible achievement.”
GH: How do you watch the Games now?
Shelton: “I'm a student of the game – I've been following what Craig Parnham and Janneke Schopman are doing. I want to stay cutting edge on all the new developments. The game has changed tremendously over the past 10-15 years. I'll watch the games from an analytical standpoint – what are they doing? What are the trends? It's fun to watch the development of the game from a spectator standpoint but also from a coaching perspective.”
GH: Anything else to add?
Shelton: Just how proud we are of these players and the way they handle themselves on and off the field. It's really special and to see the development of each one. We kind of have three generations – Falgo [Falgowski] and Rachel [Dawson] are on the team for the third time. Next is Jackie [Briggs], who was an alternate last time and now is now the starter. And then there's KK [Kolojejchick] and Poppy [Van Sickle] on the team for the first time. All five are so different and we're so proud of all of them. They've all worked so hard to earn this experience.
