Middletown’s Emily Saylor (left) and Meghan Jolikko (right) celebrate a goal in the second half of Middletown’s 4-2 win over Mount Pleasant at Middletown High School on Wednesday afternoon.
Middletown’s Meghan Jolikko (No. 7) and Brittany Bishop (No. 3) celebrate after Bishop tipped in a shot from Jolikko’s for the go-ahead goal in the second half of Middletown’s 4-2 win over Mount Pleasant at Middletown High School on Wednesday afternoon.
Middletown’s Meghan Jolikko poses for a portrait near the playing fields at Middletown High School on Monday afternoon.
Middletown’s Meghan Jolikko poses for a portrait near the playing fields at Middletown High School on Monday afternoon.
Middletown’s Meghan Jolikko poses for a portrait near the playing fields at Middletown High School on Monday afternoon.
Middletown’s Meghan Jolikko poses for a portrait near the playing fields at Middletown High School on Monday afternoon.
MEGHAN JOLIKKO, senior, Middletown field hockey
THE WEEK: Scored the winning goal in overtime in the Cavaliers’ 2-1 victory over Wilmington Friends last Monday. Also scored the winning goal in overtime in Middletown’s 3-2 win over William Penn on Wednesday.
THE OVERTIME: “When I’m in overtime, I definitely kick it into gear and I definitely take it to a whole other level,” Jolikko said. “During overtime, we all come together as a team and we realize that it’s important that we have to win the game.”
THE COACH SAYS: “She’s a great leader, on and off the field,” Middletown coach Stefany Krygier said. “She’s a very strong, versatile player. She’s someone the team depends on. They know she’ll get the job done for us.”
THE CHAMPIONSHIP: The victory over William Penn clinched the Blue Hen Flight A title for Middletown, which is 11-3 overall and 8-0 in the conference. “It was a huge deal, because my whole high school experience of playing field hockey we’ve never been Flight A champs,” Jolikko said. “We have a good team this year, and we definitely kicked it up from last year.”
THE STRENGTH: Jolikko’s stick skills allow her to advance the ball and create opportunities. “I can bring the ball down the field really well while dodging defenders and bring the ball into the circle to get some good shots off,” she said.
THE GAME WINNERS: “It’s a crazy feeling to hear your final ball hit the boards and know that that’s how you won the game,” Jolikko said. “It brings us even closer as a team to know those really important wins brought us to where we are now.”
THE CLASSROOM: Jolikko enjoys peer tutoring, where she works with students with disabilities to help them with life skills and classroom activities. “I want to be an elementary school teacher, and in taking that class I realized that I want to minor in special education,” she said.
THE FUTURE: Jolikko has committed to continue her field hockey career at Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina, where she plans to major in elementary education.
Send Athlete of the Week nominations to bmyers@delawareonline.com.