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Greencastle’s Gillen to join soccer, track teams for Pomeroys
Greencastle’s Claire Gillen had a lot of options for college sports, being a standout for three separate squads in her high school career.
In the end, Gillen chose to attend St. Mary-of-the-Woods College and study nursing. She will also play goalie for the Pomeroy soccer team and compete in the throws for the school’s inaugural track and field team.
“I could not be more excited to be a part of two of the many great programs at SMWC,” she said. “I went on one visit and felt at home and the campus is just simply beautiful. I have heard nothing but good things about the nursing program and I can’t wait to meet so many amazing people through it.
“I am so blessed to be able to call SMWC home for the next four years,” Gillen added. “It’s just like home, and they make you feel at home. It was a perfect fit to be able to pursue my dream career and compete in two sports that I love.”
Gillen was a four-year all-Western Indiana Conference performer in soccer for the Tiger Cubs, averaging 10.3 saves a game and totaled 546 saves in 2,692 minutes at GHS.
SMWC coach Craig Hendry is thrilled at being able to add Gillen to his team.
“We need some competition in the goalkeeping position and Claire comes to us with a vast amount of goalkeeping experience at the high school and club levels,” he said. “More than this, however, she brings the character required to be a Pomeroy.
“She is positive, confident, and upbeat; I am always looking for good athletes with these attributes and I look forward to seeing her help elevate our program.”
The goalie is the last line of defense, and Gillen admits there is a lot of pressure in playing the position.
“If a forward misses the ball, or it takes a bad touch, someone else is there to make up for it,” she said. “I’m the last defense, and I essentially have to be almost perfect all the time. It’s made me learn the game of soccer much better; I have to know where to put people and why a person has to go there.
“People remember the ones you let get by much more than the ones you stop.”
Gillen not only stops the ball well from going into the net, but her strong leg and kicking ability allow her to easily clear the ball out to midfield.
“It helps a lot,” she said. “On my travel team, there are a lot of really fast girls and if I can kick the ball past midfield that’s a scoring opportunitiy. I just want to be an asset and help my team in any way I can.
“If me punting the ball a country mile helps us win, then that’s what I’ll do.”
SMWC track and field coach Zach Whitkanack is forming his new program with not only athletes capable of achieving lofty numbers, but also with great character.
“I am thrilled to add Claire to our new track and field program,” he said. “She is not only a great athlete but an excellent student. Claire will be a vital asset in starting the new program. I am also very excited to see what she achieves as a soccer player.”
Like many sports, Gillen said that success is possible with the right mental attitude.
“It’s the work you put in whenever coach leaves the weight room,” she said. “You can just do the bar if you want. But if you push yourself in the weights, you will get stronger. It’s all about the technique.
“If you have the work ethic, you can be good at it.”
Last year, Gillen was second in the sectional in the shot put and also placed in the regional meet. She placed sixth in the state in the shot put last year at the state indoor meet.
She is looking forward to exploring the additional throwing opportunities that college provides.
“Besides shot put and discus, college track also has the hammer and the javelin,” she said. “I know I’m not too talented at discus, but I want to try the other two. Hammer looks kind of scary, but I’m willing to try it.”
Former Tiger Cub standout Elijah Williams, who now competes at Hanover, has returned to help coach the Greencastle throws and talked about the new events with her.
“He said it’s a big adjustment,“ she said. “Shot put is my favorite, because that’s what I’m best at, but I’ll throw whatever they need me to throw.”
Playing one sport in college is difficult, but taking on two at once is even more challenging.
Gillen noted the sports do not overlap, with soccer ending in October and track not beginning until after Christmas break.
“If the soccer team goes to the nationals, then track would get pushed back,” she said. “Both coaches told me to worry most about the sport I’m in at that time.”
A conversation with the nursing director eased any concerns Gillen may have had about her plans.
“She said she would make sure I was up to date on my education and that is going to come first,” Gillen said. “She said they would allow athletes to also be nursing students, which a lot of schools don’t do.
Gillen also took the court for the Tiger Cub basketball team this winter, earning recognition as one of the state’s top 100 senior girls players.
The brief thought of playing three sports in college was just too overwhelming.
“I love basketball, but I would rather just do track and soccer,” she said.