By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Walpole native Kate McDavitt’s field hockey accolades are extremely impressive. A former standout at Walpole High, McDavitt was selected to the U-16 National Team while she and her sister, Jen, helped lead the Porkers to three state championships from 1996-1999.
Following her senior season in 2000, McDavitt took her field hockey skills to Harvard University, where she continued to dominate. During her four years as a member of the Crimson, McDavitt recorded 30 goals to rank sixth in scoring in program history, to go along with 73 total points (fifth in Harvard program history). McDavitt was named to the All-Ivy League team three times, twice named a member of the All-Region team, a 2002 All-American, a 2004 Faden Award recipient and a two-year team captain before graduating in 2004.
Now, she is a hall-of-famer.
“I am thrilled, humbled and so incredibly honored to be inducted into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame,” said McDavitt on her recognition.
The crazy part about McDavitt’s induction into the Harvard Hall of Fame is her entire collegiate athletic career was put in jeopardy in 2002 due to a knee injury. McDavitt says overcoming her injury was in large part thanks to her supporting cast of family, friends, teammates and coaches.
“Looking back at my time at Harvard, there are many great memories,” said McDavitt. “There were many challenges during my career. Most notably that I missed my sophomore season due to a knee injury. It was the first time in my life that I was unable to play the sport I loved. There were a lot of tears and a lot of pain that year, but there was also an unparalleled amount of support. The support came from my family, my teammates, my roommates, my coach, my trainers and my friends. I am grateful for the role they played in my road to recovery. I’d like to thank my coach, Sue {Caples}. My injury could have been the end of my field hockey career, but you believed in me, encouraged me and supported me, and that made all the difference.”
McDavitt, now married to her husband, Geoff, has three daughters (Ellie, Caroline and Mae). The next crop of McDavitt star field hockey players appears to be well in the making.
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as game highlights, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram @flano0.
