Student-Athlete Of The Month: Katie Wiseman, Severna Park Field Hockey

Part of Merriam-Webster’s definition of leadership is to mold individuals into a cohesive team.

Severna Park High School senior Katie Wiseman models that quality to her field hockey teammates during summer workouts, practices and games.

“As a coach, it’s nice to know that I can always count on Katie to be a team-first player, and she leads by setting a hard-work example for her teammates,” said Severna Park varsity field hockey coach Shannon Garden. “It’s just super impressive how Katie handles herself.”

Wiseman has been on the varsity field hockey team since her sophomore year and has earned her teammates’ respect over those three seasons. This year, she was named a team co-captain.

Wiseman’s dedication to the sport is evident. She coordinated the Falcons’ summer conditioning program and captained one of Severna Park’s summer field hockey teams.

“I know that we take our offseason conditioning very seriously, so I took that responsibility and brought a positive and supportive attitude to our summer sessions,” Wiseman said. “We met at Kinder Park at 7:30 a.m. three days a week and focused on flexibility, sprints and agility, but it also helped our team chemistry.”

Wiseman plays right forward on the team and was the Falcons’ third-leading scorer on last year’s 10-3 team, which reached the 4A state championship game.

This year, Wiseman planned, marketed and coordinated the Falcons’ annual Green Hornets Spirit Game, where young field hockey players see how the varsity field hockey team prepares for a home game before taking the field with the players during the national anthem.

Wiseman also runs indoor track for the Falcons, competing in the 800-meter and 1,600-meter events.

Wiseman strives to make a positive impact in the classroom and her community through her involvement in the school’s Leadership Institute and fundraising for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This summer, she interned at the pediatric unit at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis and volunteered with the Green Hornets girls lacrosse program. In addition, Wiseman has a part-time job at Severna Park’s Sugar Shoppe.

With all these activities, Wiseman maintains a 4.3 weighted GPA and has taken many Advanced Placement classes. She hopes to major in kinesiology in college and would like to pursue a career in the medical field.

Before that, Wiseman still wants to enjoy her senior field hockey season with her teammates and relish the bond she has helped create.

“We have a really close team, and we’re all best friends and love to hang out together by going to Chick-fil-A for breakfast before games and Chipotle after games,” she said. “We also have team dinners the nights before the games at everybody’s houses, and they are great for the team and the parents.”

The team relies on Wiseman to be one of its senior leaders, and the coaching staff wants younger players to witness the qualities that help shape a leader.

“Katie shows up every day, works extremely hard and plays her heart out when she is in the game,” Garden said. “Katie is easy to be around. She’s happy and always positive and she will be a great leader in whatever field she eventually goes into. I’m very proud of her.”