Ainsley Wikander, class of 2027, has taken her athleticism from the stage to the turf. Ainsley first started ballet when she was just four years old, and right away fell in love with it. As she grew, so did her skills, and she quickly began to dance competitively. Ballet became a huge part of her life and “for a while, I thought I was always going to be a dancer,” she says. Never in a million years did she think 8th grade was going to be the last time she ever stepped foot in the studio.
Spring of her freshman year, Ainsley decided to try out for the Norwalk Girls Lacrosse Team. “All of my friends were doing sports and were having so much fun so that’s really what made me want to play.” In addition to playing on the freshman team, Ainsley was also a starter on the Junior Varsity Team. Coach Zajdel, the freshman girls lacrosse coach, says Ainsley is “perceptive, dedicated, aggressive, and always willing to get better.” Her positive yet competitive attitude both on and off the field fuels her success. “One of my favorite memories was scoring my first goal. The feeling of scoring, especially in my first game, was amazing and it’s something I never got to experience in dance,” Ainsley says.
After a successful spring season, having never picked up a stick before, as a sophomore, Ainsley was one of only 16 players to make the Norwalk Girls Varsity Field Hockey Team. Senior Captain Maddy Yusi says “everyday, Ainsley comes to practice eager to learn more about field hockey, a sport she’s totally new to. She runs around the field with a smile on her face at all times and ultimately tries to make the most of her experience.” “My favorite part about field hockey is the bus rides and team bonding,” says Ainsley.
Being a student athlete, having practice or a game everyday after school “is definitely challenging but I just have to make sure I stay organized.” She plans to continue her athletic career after high school, playing college lacrosse. When asked what advice she would give to someone who wants to play a sport in high school despite having no experience Ainsley says, “even if you have no experience definitely do it. You don’t have to be good, you’ll practice and get good. It’s really about having fun with your teammates and making new friends.” All in all, Ainsley states “I play sports because I love running and being active and I’ve been doing dance for so long that I just got tired of it so I wanted to do something new.” Everyday, Ainsley steps on the field everyday with no regrets!
