GREENE – Ever since she could walk, she had a field hockey stick in her hand. Now, after she concluded the end of her senior season as a Greene Trojan, McKenna Sergi signed the dotted line to continue her playing career as a Husky at the University of Connecticut (UConn) Monday afternoon.
In a packed library, Sergi was surrounded by family, friends, teachers and coaches – including the Trojans’ field hockey coach Christine Battaglini – as she officially committed to the NCAA Division-I program
“All you have to do is come to a game and see what McKenna is capable of,” said Battaglini. “She is a game changer and has the ability to make her teammates around her better. Over the years McKenna has played our center midfield position and has been nothing short of spectacular.”
Sergi said her love for the sport came at a young age from her mother, Morgan Sergi, and aunt Kate Harris (Sergi). “Both played when they were in school and they introduced me into the sport at a very early age,” said Sergi. “
The coaches from UConn first saw Sergi play at a camp two summers ago, a camp she was invited to join by her club coach’s step-daughter Amanda Collins. Collins, a Vestal graduate, is currently a senior on the Huskies roster.
“The associate head coach [Paul Caddy] liked the way I played and wanted the head coach to watch me in play in a scrimmage at the camp,” said Sergi. “[Nancy Stevens] came to watch and liked the way I played also. After that, they told me they really like me and invited me on a tour.”
After stepping onto the campus for the first time, Sergi fell in love and knew UConn is where she wanted to continue her field hockey career.
As the Greene Field Hockey program starts at the youth levels and carries through to varsity, Sergi has spent her career wearing the green and white. In these last few years as a Trojan, she has been active with the younger field hockey athletes and many look up to her as a role model.
“Always work hard and always want to be the best,” Sergi said as a piece of advice to those girls. “I remember, when I was in sixth or seventh grade, I was at the summer workouts with the girls and they were all just pushing each other so hard. The group always wanted to be the best and win at everything they did. They had this work ethic that I will never forget.
“Having a strong work ethic is such a big part of the game and it really had a huge effect on me.”
Her father, Jeff Sergi, was also a big influence on his daughter and the work she put into coming one of the best players in the area.
“I’ve pushed her throughout her whole life to hopefully get her to this point and she’s definitely followed through,” said Jeff. “Hopefully she will continue that on through the next level but I’m sure she will have no problem.
“I’m extremely proud of her. The work ethic she has while she is on the field and in practices will shine through.”
Sergi is a three-sport athlete – field hockey, basketball and softball – a feature that is rare among high school athletes now-a-days. When watching her on the playing surface, she is one of the hardest workers – both defensively and offensively – as she is in the right place at the right time throughout the game.
“It’s interesting for me to watch her grow into the player she has become over the years as I have been her coach for the first six years,” said Sergi’s father. “She was always this tiny, little kid. Now, over the last few years, I have seen the physical changes in her. She has developed the strength and determination she has now has helped her and it comes from the extra time she has put in off the practice field.”
The UConn team recently ended their season with an overtime loss to Maryland in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Huskies are a powerhouse program are a member of the Big East Conference and were the 2017 NCAA National Champions.
As she will no longer wear the green, white and gold of the Trojans come June, she will fit in just fine as a Husky of the blue, red and white.