Tiny Ellie Barrett: 100 pounds of focused field hockey intensity
By Fred Hodge
Fauquier County's middle schools offer only a smattering of the sports sponsored in high school. The big sports like football, volleyball, basketball and soccer are included, and most students follow them, but sometimes interventions can alter those pursuits.
That's what happened to Ellie Barrett, a member of Fauquier High's Class of 2009 and the Fauquier Times-Democrat Girls Athlete of the Year at the school.
Barrett began playing soccer at the age of five and continued through three seasons at the middle school level, but soccer is a spring sport. What would she do in the fall of her freshman year?
Ellie played volleyball as an eighth grader and developed an affinity for the sport, which is a fall activity at the high school. Her career as a Falcon volleyball player never got off the ground.
"I actually wanted to play volleyball, but my dad said I was too short," recalled Barrett, who stands just 5-foot-3 and may have been even shorter when she arrived at FHS as a freshman. "I was mad about it for a while."
Ellie's mother had played field hockey, and her dad tried to convince an older daughter to play, to no avail. He was more successful with his next daughter.
"I had never played hockey....He promised me I would love it if I played," Barrett said. "I absolutely loved it."
Tryouts went smoothly, but the freshman received quite a surprise when she examined the posted lists.
"I went to check the JV roster. My name wasn't on it," Barrett began. "I turned around, and my sister said 'Look at the varsity.'
"There was my name. I didn't think about checking the varsity roster."
The Falcon experienced early success that helped to solidify her growing affection for field hockey.
"I scored a goal my very first game. I thought maybe this is foreshadowing for the rest of my career," Barrett continued.
That thought proved to be true.
After four years on the varsity level, Barrett leaves school as the program's all-time leading scorer with 39 career goals, including 14 as a senior. Her skill set, athleticism and intensity led her to Division I Bucknell University (Lewisburg, Pa.) this fall, where she'll continue her life as a student-athlete.
"I'm so happy I get to continue playing [field hockey] for four more years," Barrett said.
Barrett did not derive all of her field hockey euphoria from moments on the field. She also spoke often and emphatically about the relationships athletes build, using former coach Linda Lee as an example.
"I actually loved coach Lee. She became one of my very best friends," Barrett began.
"That relationship I created with her is the reason I loved going to practice," Barrett said.
Lee, now an assistant principal at Kettle Run High School, resigned from coaching after Barrett's sophomore season, upsetting the Falcon. Barrett said she developed a good relationship with subsequent coach Sarah Talomie, but Lee still holds a key spot in her heart...
See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.