Alex Hank named Big South Defensive Player of the Week
Alex Hank was named the Big South Defensive Player of the Week. Photo by: highpointpanthers.com
By Kimberly Kupres// Staff Writer
The crowd screams in excitement as Alex Hank saves another goal for the High Point University women’s soccer team. Her teammates congratulate her as they all group together to celebrate her saved goal that gave them the win.
At the young age of four, Hank found her passion in soccer. For 10 years, Hank’s life consisted of long bus rides, ice baths, fitness tests, hotel rooms, Olive Garden takeout, and so much more.
“Somewhere along the way I fell passionately in love with the game of soccer,” Hank said. “Being completely honest, I would have to say the people I’ve met along the way has made my journey so enjoyable. The opportunity to play all over the world has been one of the greatest experiences and meeting so many new and interesting players has truly been the backbone for my love of soccer.”
Hank, now 20-years-old, has been named the Big South Defensive Player of the Week.
“It is an honor, and I’m so surprised, but the award is for the team,” Hank said. “It speaks volumes for the team as a whole.”
Every day Hank faces new challenges that she has learned to accept and grow from. She explained that throughout the season there will be a lot of highs and a lot of lows, but that is just part of playing the game.
“You never know what’s around the next corner,” Hank said. “What I struggle the most with is seeing other people get injured. It is tough to watch someone who loves something so dearly be stripped of their opportunity to play. Taking a positive from this, it truly helps us all as players appreciate the times when we are healthy, strong, and able to play our best.”
Hank works hard every day and has developed a circle of trust with her teammates that has made her experience enjoyable. Team bonding is a huge component to their success as a team. Hank mentioned that as a team, they enjoy long bus rides to games purely for the team bonding.
“Our favorite activity for a long away trip is to try to get the soccer ball from the front of the bus to the back of the bus without using your hands and having every player touch it,” Hank said. “We split the teams right down the aisle and get so competitive while racing. It always ends in an uproar of laughter.”
Playing at a division one level requires a lot of diligent work and focus. Hank and her teammates have all developed their own unique pre-game rituals to calm their nerves.
“I always listen to calming music before [a game] to chill my nerves,” Hank said. “As I’m running into my goal box, I always step on the penalty kick spot with my left foot and go to the right post, knock it twice, and as I head to knock the next post I always say a quick prayer and talk to my Grandaddy before I play. On big games I look in the sky for a ‘sign’ from him, which is normally a heart cloud or a single bird flying in the sky. It’s just my thing.”
Hank has many supporters around her. One of the team captains, Kelsey Perrell, explains what an asset Hank is to the team, especially defensively.
“She is amazing, hilarious, and never puts herself first,” Perrell said. “She also sacrifices a lot for us in the goal box. Being on her team is amazing because she sets the tone for everyone.”
Not only has Hank developed a special bond with her teammates, she has also developed one with her coach as well. In fact, they even share their own way of communicating.
“My coach has done a wonderful job learning how to communicate with me as a player,” Hank said. “From a constructive stand point, he will tell me what I need to fix and my response is generally a thumbs up. It’s kind of like ‘hey I hear what you’re saying and I will do my best to fix it next time.’ He doesn’t ever have to say anything particular to me after a big game. Our ‘communication’ after big games is normally a fist pump. Whenever I get a fist pump from him I know I did my job well that day.”