Senior forward and four-year varsity field hockey player Jenna Kanaan is not only a versatile and valuable player, but a true leader on and off the field, making her the perfect fit for this issue’s Player of the Moment.
Kanaan first started playing field hockey in eighth grade during the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools were shut down and sports practices weren’t being held like usual. Although she faced an unusual challenge at the start, she stuck with the sport and continued playing in high school, where she made the varsity team at Kingswood Oxford as a freshman.
Throughout Kanaan’s first three seasons on the team, she was a defensive player who saved multiple goals and stopped opponents from running past her. After becoming more and more comfortable with the sport and perfecting her craft, at the beginning of her senior year, Kanaan and her coaches decided that it was the perfect time for her to switch to a new position: forward. Knowing that she would be responsible for scoring goals and making spot-on passes to her teammates, Kanaan graciously accepted the position and has made the most of her time so far, having already scored three goals this season.
Head Coach Chapin Yates was full of praise for Kanaan’s work ethic and willingness to try new things. “[Kanaan] has done an incredible job adjusting to the new forward position: she is always eager to ask questions, grow as a player, and work on improving her skills,” she said. “[She] is valuable to us in the forward position and sets a great example by proving she can adapt quickly.”
Not only has Kanaan been able to lead on the field, but she has also been a great role model for her teammates and friends off the field as well. Compassionate, understanding, and helpful were just a few characteristics her teammates and coaches used to describe her. “[Kanaan] is one of the best teammates, and she always shows up for her team members,” Assistant Coach Nicole Baratz said. “All around, she’s everything you’d want in a teammate, a friend, anyone.” Kannan has become well known for her all-around great attitude, loyalty to her teammates, and overall amazing athletic spirit.
According to Kanaan, being a role model and helping her teammates as much as she can have been two important values for her, especially this season. “It really is just trying to [see where] help is needed, provide that extra help, and lend that extra hand,” Kanaan said.
As the days to the end of the fall season count down, Kanaan shared her favorite memory from the season. “My favorite memory would have to be [the game we won] against Kent, because KO field hockey has never won against Kent before,” Kanaan said. She further explained that the team had been quite nervous before the game, which made the victory even more exciting. “That was just a really fun win because we all came in with an uneasy mindset, but I think a lot of people were running off the momentum of our last three wins, and Kent became a big win for us.”
Shoutout to Kanaan for a spectacular senior season and for outstanding sportsmanship and leadership! Make sure you all come out and support Kanaan and the Wyverns as they take on Ethel Walker on Senior Night, which will be on Nov. 9 on the turf!
