Parkland & Penn State Alum Aubrey Semler

Lehigh Valley, PA - January 9, 2026: Aubrey Semler is a 2021 graduate of Parkland High School (Allentown, PA) where she excelled both in academics and athletics. She attained High Honors in the classroom and was a PIAA all-state field hockey player.

Aubrey continued her academic and athletic career at Penn State University. At Penn State, she was named twice to the Big10 All-Academic Team, won a Big10 Championship, and was a member of the Nittany Lions field hockey team which made a Final Four appearance at the NCAA Championships.

Keystone Sports Extra recently had the opportunity to meet and talk with Aubrey about her journey from high school to college. Here is what she had to say:

KSE: How old were you when you started playing field hockey and what led you to field hockey over other sports?

Aubrey: I started playing field hockey in 2nd grade so about 7 years old. I started because my sister began playing and I figured I would give it a shot. I played a lot of different sports growing up, specifically horseback riding. If I didn’t have a stick in my hand, I was riding horses, that was my other true passion and I really had to balance that and field hockey growing up. I even had horses of my own and would compete regularly. I rode and owned horses all the way up to my junior year in college but ultimately had to close that chapter and sell my horse as balancing college athletics with caring for a horse became too time consuming.

In high school, I also ran track and field. I competed in the 100, 200, and 400 meter dashes as well as the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. I qualified for states as a member of the 4x100 relay team in my senior year and we held the school record until it was broken a year later.

KSE: How did your family influence your athletic career growing up and throughout college?

Aubrey: My father, who was a D1 athlete himself, heavily influenced both my sister and I with our athletic journeys growing up. He exposed us to multiple sports, shot hoops with us in the driveway, and threw the baseball with us. My older sister played field hockey as well, two years at Iowa and two years at Kutztown, and we were constantly active and playing some type of sport. We grew up loving to compete no matter what sport it was. My mom pushed my sister and I both on and off the field by always being at our games, cheering us on, driving us all over the country to tournaments, and being our biggest mentor/motivator on how to navigate life without just sports.

KSE: How did having an older sister who played field hockey affect your career?

Aubrey: I think to put it simply, my sister and I were two completely different players in the way we approached the game, played, and competed. We both had skill sets that made us the players we were, and which benefitted us for our own individual style of play. I think we both similarly shared the love of competing. We knew once we stepped on the field it was time to go to work.

KSE: Do you feel that playing on a club/summer/travel team helps an athlete’s play? Some say playing all year long at a young age might burn an athlete out. Can you give your opinion as well as provide some details about your teams and coaches?

Aubrey: Absolutely. I think playing in the off season, such as on a club or a summer team and attending camps, is crucial, especially if you have intentions to play at the next level. Everything in moderation is the key, you have to strike a good balance. If you do too much of something without having the balance, of course you may face burn out. I personally believe that although it is important to play club/off season, it is also important to put yourself in other activities/sports, take time off, spend time with family and friends, limit yourself if you need.

I played club with the World Class Eagles, coached by Jun and Richard Kentwell, and then I eventually played for Xcalibur, coached by Brian Hope. All my coaches heavily influenced my play and support when going through the recruiting process and field hockey career as a whole.

I did travel often during the recruiting process. It could get hard missing school or

activities with friends or even some holidays but it was all worth it. I got to see so many cool campuses, sports facilities, and cities when I travelled for recruiting.

I would like to give a huge shoutout to my club coaches, especially Brian Hope, for helping me through the entire recruiting process. He played a big role in helping me get to Penn State.

At Penn State, the coaches were great, so I would like to give them a big shoutout as well. Coach Char, who originally recruited me, LB, Amanda Dinunzzio, Ayla Halus-Johnson, and Ally Hammel, they each pushed me day in and day out, not only to be a great student-athlete but to become a well-rounded human being. Their support has shaped me for who I am and I would not be where I am today without them by my side for the past 5 years.

KSE: While at Parkland, you were ranked among the top 50 players for the class of 2021. During the recruiting process, what other colleges showed interest in you and how did you finally decide to commit to Penn State? Was it an easy decision? Did distance from home play a factor?

Aubrey: I was recruited by Wake Forest, Northwestern, Boston College, Duke, and Syracuse. I committed to Penn State on August 21, 2018, so going into my Sophomore year. This was prior to the NCAA rule change so that is why I was able to commit so early. I chose Penn State for the excellent academic reputation and their commitment to athletics. I also chose Penn State because the field hockey program was committed to being family/team oriented, as well as not just making you a good field hockey player, but a great person off the field.

It was both easy and difficult, as I was super young at the time, so making a decision about my future felt complicated, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I originally had my heart set on Wake Forest, but after attending a camp there in the summer of 2018 and seeing what it was going to be like driving from North Carolina compared to Penn State for the next four years, it only felt right that Penn State was a better option. I also liked that Penn State wasn’t 20 minutes away from home but it also wasn’t a plane ride either. I was also very impressed with Penn State’s large alumni network.

KSE: This area, and Pennsylvania itself, is very big for field hockey. Who was your biggest opponent you did not want to lose to? Why do you think field hockey is such a big sport in PA and what leads to so many great players coming out of PA?

Aubrey: Most people would think my answer would be Emmaus High School, but actually it’s Easton. The biggest game for me was was probably my junior year in high school in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Championship against Emmaus. We didn’t end up winning but there was a lot of hype around the game which made it very exciting to play in.

I think there are a lot of schools within Pennsylvania that have great teams, which make it more popular for the sport, meaning that most high schools or colleges offer field hockey, making opportunities to play more possible. I definitely think it’s possible that people from outside the state travel to play for better teams. I know when I was playing, I had some friends that lived in either New Jersey or Maryland travel up to play on our club team because either there was more club options or the teams were better.

I think that is just the nature of sports, although there may not be field hockey necessarily in certain state, it doesn’t mean that the college itself isn’t a place where players wouldn’t look at. Iowa for example is known for having a great program and college town, which is how they attract recruits to come play there. My sister played at Iowa for two years. I know that some players also prefer to be farther away from home and if that option prevails, that can be a good fit for some people.

KSE: You played forward at Penn State. As a forward, you ended your career with 12 points, 5 goals, 2 assists, and 2 game winners. What does a forward do on the field?

Aubrey: Think of it similar to a wide-receiver in football. They both rely on speed, timing, and positioning to score. Midfielders are are like quarterbacks, starting the plays and setting us up so that we can finish the play or make something happen. A forward must constantly move to create space and get open against a defender. Like a wide receiver, a forward also needs quick reactions and strong finishing skills. Essentially a forward is generating the attack and finishing on scoring opportunities, while also applying pressure to the other teams’ defense.

KSE: You were named to the 2023 and 2025 Academic All Big10 teams. Congratulations on that accomplishment. It certainly can be challenging to do well in academics while juggling athletics. You should be proud of yourself. How did this make you feel and how did it make your parents feel?

Aubrey: Thank you. Accomplishing this made me feel very proud of myself, as it was no easy task. I truly wouldn’t be able to accomplish any of it without the support of my team, coaches, academic advisors, and other supporting staff. My parents were very proud of me.

I would say time management is huge in getting this done and without mastering that, it can be very hard to stay on task or organized. One of the biggest challenges can be procrastination. Since you are on your own, you have so much more time, and no one telling you what to do and when to do it. It’s very important to create a schedule and routine for yourself in order to help stay on course to get done what needs to get done.

KSE: Tell us about one of your favorite classes at Penn State and a professor that may have had an impact on you?

Aubrey: My favorite class at Penn State was HDFS 433, a Developmental Transition to Adulthood class. In this class, we learned about how different physical, emotional, and social changes during puberty are connected and effect each other. The coolest part of the class was our professor. He connected our class content to relevant societal happenings, so we got to learn about our own selves, our development, and connect it to what we experience in our current generation.

KSE: What was the biggest challenge to adapting to college life from high school? What do you wish you knew before starting college and that you would want high school students to know?

Aubrey: I think the biggest challenge for me was having more freedom. Having to create

my own schedule and routine was tougher other than when I had to show up for practice. When you’re in high school, you are living at home with your family so a routine may be created for you by your parents or the school. You wake up, go to school all day, have all your classes all laid out in the day, you get home, dinner is already made, and you have your own nice cozy room to go to sleep. In college, you may wake up and not have class til noon. So you have to make sure you are getting breakfast, eating right, and get things done before class. You may have a certain class on one day and then not have it again until two or three days later so you have to make sure to get the work done at the right time.

The one thing I wish I knew before starting college is not putting so much pressure on myself to know exactly what it is that you want to be before you graduate. Your values, opinions, and interests may change over time in college and you must remember that it’s ok to make that change.

KSE: There are a lot of great youth mentors or coaches, and some not so great. Is there a teacher or coach in your youth that stands out as being a major influence in your career and life?

Aubrey: Yes! It was actually not a field hockey coach. It was my high school track and

field coach, Paul Stewart. Coach Stewart really influenced my mindset overall as an

athlete. I am forever grateful to him for the way he developed my confidence and thought process in getting ready for competition.

KSE: Student-athletes in college can be faced with a lot of pressure. Can you give an example of a difficult challenge you faced in college, in regards to academics and athletics, and how you got through each?

Aubrey: A difficult challenge that I faced in regards to academics was a time where I

had a pretty difficult class. It wasn’t that the content was hard to understand but the

exams were super tough. No multiple choice, completely written out essay-style so pure

memory. I had struggled with the initial exams and needed to pass the final exam to

pass the course. It was super important to pass because I had an internship coming up that summer and needed to be finished with all of my courses before starting. So, with that said, I knew I had no other choice but to bare down and pass the exam. While juggling other classes and the field hockey schedule, I made it my priority to study 10x times harder and better than I did ever before. I went to a lot of office hours, studied with classmates, studied all day on Sundays, and with that extra fire under me, I went into the exam and passed it.

A difficult time in regards to athletics was in my junior year during preseason. It might have literally been the second practice. I was running for a ball during a drill and felt a tug/snap feeling in my hamstring and I went down. Luckily, I only had a minor tear but it kept me out for about 2 weeks. I missed most of the preseason work and our first weekend of games. I felt defeated, feeling like I was missing out on my opportunity. Fortunately, couple with hard work and a great athletic trainer, I bounced back. I had a lot of encouraging support from my teammates and coaches while I stood on the sidelines and watched games.

As a college freshman, I think it’s important to know to give yourself grace. It is

going to get tough. It is going to be hard. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. That’s the beauty of being a student-athlete. It’s challenging, but at the end of the day when you get to put on that uniform and step on the field, all of the hard work is so rewarding.

KSE: As you reflect on your later days in college, what was the biggest life-lesson you learned?

Aubrey: Great question. I think my biggest thing I realized is that it all comes and goes very quickly. It is so easy to get distracted and only focus on the little things. But, by doing that, you miss the more important moments, such as time spent with your teammates, that really hard practice you got through, having the opportunity to get to go to class and learn something really cool. It’s easy to get caught up, but when you really sit back as a senior in your final moments you get to reflect and become appreciative of all the things you got to experience. It’s something to reflect on for life because that’s how it’s always going to be.

KSE: Can you talk about a favorite field hockey team moment, college or high school, that you’ll always remember or you think back on later? It could be a funny moment, a big win, or a big disappointment?

Aubrey: The funniest moment would have to be during spring off-season workouts. These workouts get tough and grueling. We’re at the final week and we just finished with conditioning when our coach, at the time Char Morett-Curtis, pulled us in and was talking to us. We honestly thought we were in trouble. At the end of her talk, she goes: “And with all of your hard work this past spring, I think its only right to take you guys to the Waffle Shop.” If you don’t know what the Waffle Shop is, its a really great breakfast spot in State College. We were all in disbelief but super excited. The video reaction was an instant super classic and the best part of it all.

I think our biggest win was in my sophomore year. Beating Rutgers to clinch the

Big10 Regular Season Championship was great! The best part is that night when we arrived back on campus, we were greeted at Beaver Stadium with the trophy and shirts. We were met by the Nittany Lion, Cheerleaders, fans, the Nittanyville student-section, and athletic department staff. It was truly one of the coolest moments of my entire career.

KSE: Did you have any pre-game routines or superstitions?

Aubrey: Nothing crazy. When I would put on my socks, shinguards, and shoes, it always have to be right foot first. I always did a salt packet before the game so that I wouldn’t get dehydrated.

Mentally, I did two things. I always got to the locker room early so that I could

have some alone time. I listened to some music and de-stressed. As game time approached, it was important for me to be near my teammates, dancing, singing, and

getting hype before going out to the field.

KSE: While traveling to all the away locations, did you have a favorite city/field/stadium?

Aubrey: My favorite field/stadium, other than Penn State, had to be Michigan. The Wolverines have great facilities and their atmosphere was always electric. My favorite city or town to visit was Michigan State or Northwestern. Michigan State has a really cute downtown with nice coffee shops and restaurants. Northwestern is also great because you are right on the lake and so close to Chicago.

KSE: You played on some big teams, including the USA Field Hockey U16 and U19 teams. Who was the best field hockey player teammate?

Aubrey: That’s a tough question because there are a bunch. I would have to say teammate Phia “Sophia” Gladieux. We were not only college teammates but we were also club teammates. She is truly a phenomenal player with a great IQ.She has one of the greatest reverse hits ever. You do not want to be in the way of it.

KSE: While at Penn State, you had an overall career record of 55-37. The wins are always fun but what is your biggest overall takeaway from the losses?

Aubrey: I think my biggest takeaway from the losses is how we responded to them as a team. We didn’t always get it right but one thing we always did was work harder that following week to better ourselves for the next game. That is something I will take with me for life. Our program was rooted in always being 1% better no matter if we won a game or lost, that was the expectation and everyone bought into that.

KSE: You attained a degree in Human Development & Family Studies with a minor in Psychology. What are your plans now as a college graduate?

Aubrey: Job searching! It is really tough these days for college graduates to find a job. All my friends are having a difficult time. The rejection rate is very high and it really comes down too often to who knows who.

I would like to get into pharmaceutical sales, or sales for that matter. My mom has 35 years of experience in pharma, medical devices, and the biotech area so she is helping me with all of that. I’m taking it one step at a time. I’m adjusting from college life, being back at home, and it can be challenging. I am giving myself grace and trying to enjoy it as I go.

My dream job would have to be owning an equestrian center for retired horses. I would like to manage a farm and the sales of the horses.

I would be interested in coaching maybe down the road at some point but no current plans because I am enjoying my time away from the sport so that I can explore various things and activities that I wasn’t able to do while playing college sports.

KSE: Do you like the Lehigh Valley area and is it someplace you would like to stay?

Aubrey: I do, yes. I was born and raised here so my roots will always be in the LV. It is someplace I would stay until I can save up some money. I would be open to exploring new cities and towns.

KSE: What in your opinion makes the mind of an athlete different than that of most people?

Aubrey: Grit. An athlete has two choices: work or work harder, there’s no in-between. If you choose to do neither, you limit reaching your full potential. When you have the mind of an athlete, it’s the little things, such as, you have 6 AM conditioning on an 18 degree morning in the middle of February. You absolutely do not want to get out of your

warm bed and go push your body but you do it, and you keep doing it, week after week. “If I wake up for this 6am conditioning and work really hard, there’s no doubt that I can push myself even more when the game is on the line in double overtime.” There’s an adrenaline rush that athletes feed off. If you are committed, you keep going back. It translates to real life when you get a job. You need to hit your goal for the month so you fall back on the hard workouts, the grit, to attain the goal. The instinct just kicks in to get it done. It will make life easier because of the hard path you walked for years.

KSE: Patty Gasso, the Oklahoma softball coach, once said that God did not put her here to win games. Instead, she said she is here to take care of her players and win souls. Do you feel some coaches place too much emphasis on winning at all cost?

Aubrey: I think it’s all on how you look at it. At the end of the day, we are here to win, that’s my job, my teammates job, and my coaches jobs. Does it always go that way, no, that’s sports. I believe there should absolutely be an emphasis on winning but there also has be a correct perspective on how you look at winning. You shouldn’t let wins or losses define you, but they should determine what you choose to do next.

KSE: Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you?

Aubrey: One of my favorite quotes is by Kobe Bryant: “The moment you give up, is the

moment you let someone else win.”

KSE: As we normally do, we end with some fun questions…so to start off, since it’s Christmas season, in Aubrey’s own home, she has a real or fake Christmas tree?

Aubrey: Real…always.

KSE: What is the longest amount of time you can go without using your cell phone?

Aubrey: Yikes…not very long. In-season maybe 3-4 hours.

KSE: WaWa or Sheetz?

Aubrey: Wawa, through and through!

KSE: Favorite food?

Aubrey: Sushi

KSE: Favorite spot on PSU campus just to chill?

Aubrey: The Hub

KSE: If you could play any other sport, what would it be?

Aubrey: Lacrosse

KSE: If you could spend time with one person, just chatting over coffee, who would it be?

Aubrey: Taylor Swift

KSE: Favorite movie or tv show?

Aubrey: Gossip Girl!

KSE: What is your favorite book or podcast?

Aubrey: Book: The Great Gatsby or The Housemaid

KSE: This one field hockey item is the centerpiece of your bookshelf or curio?

Aubrey: My Final Four Big10 Championship Ring.

KSE: What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time?

Aubrey: Yoga, shopping, and hanging with friends.

KSE: Favorite Penn State Creamery ice cream flavor?

Aubrey: Alumni Swirl! We Are!

Aubrey Semler, a 2021 graduate of Parkland High School and a 2025 graduate of Penn State University, takes a moment for a portrait on January 9, 2026.