Staff Report

Prior to Monday’s 1-0 loss against Delsea Regional, the Triton High field hockey team had ripped off six straight wins to jump into second place in the Tri-County Conference’s Liberty Division. Senior forward Olivia Broome has been the leading scorer for the Mustangs, netting 23 goals to bring her career total to 122.

Check out South Jersey Glory Days Correspondent Brian Tortella’s most recent Q&A, with Broome, a two-sport athlete who has 68 career goals and 21 assists as a lacrosse player in the spring.

Tortella: How old were you when you started playing field hockey, and what got you into it?

Broome: I was about 5 years old when my mom put me into Mount Laurel field hockey.

Tortella: What has been the most memorable moment, play or game from your high school career? 

Broome: Breaking the (Triton) scoring record and hitting 100 goals.

Tortella: What do you like most about your new field hockey coach, Allison Frampton? 

Broome: First time meeting Coach Frampton at a summer practice, I knew I would get along with her. She’s very open and straight to the point. She helped me gain more confidence as the season has gone on, and I’m excited to be winning games and making memories with her.

Tortella: Which sport do you like most, field hockey or lacrosse?

Broome: Field Hockey is definitely my number one. But I love lacrosse almost as much.

Tortella: What do you like most about Triton?

Broome: I like the teachers and the sports I play. All of my teachers are so kind. Field hockey and lacrosse play a big role at Triton for me. Without them, I would not have the friends and opportunities (I have now).

Tortella: Who is your best friend on the team?

Broome: My best friends on the team are definitely the seniors — Ryleigh (Broome), Riley (Mikiewicz) and Kayla (Garofalo). As well as Bobbie (Messick) and Bella (Cross). All of those girls have always cheered me up and been big supporters through everything.

Tortella: Who was your biggest inspiration growing up?

Broome: My parents and coaches. I always watched how they acted, and how they were pushing me in different ways to do better. It has shaped me into the person I am today.

Tortella: Outside of sports, what are some hobbies you enjoy in your free time?

Broome: I am always going out with my friends, getting food and shopping. We love driving around, blasting music and getting different kinds of new foods.

Tortella: This season you reached 100 career goals in field hockey. What was that feeling like and what does it mean to you?

Broome: During the game when it happened it meant a lot. Although I was nervous, once it happened, I felt relieved. I had my family and friends on the field and sidelines. It meant a lot to have people I love being there for me. I have worked so hard for accomplishments like this and am happy to make others proud.

Tortella: What do you believe is the greatest challenge most high school athletes face today?

Broome: Injuries or mental struggles. Getting injured is a big setback. It’s upsetting to be able to watch everyone around you play while you’re sitting on the sidelines. Mentally, you have to be strong in order to get through your season. Some people are unable to handle school and sports, and it causes a lot of stress.

Tortella: What would you tell your freshman self if you could go back to your first day of high school? What advice would you give?

Broome: I would tell myself to be more appreciative of my time. I always wished for days off, or snow days. But now that I only have a little bit of time left, I realized how much I would miss it. Advice I would give is to get out of your comfort zone and do everything you can for the last four years of your teenage years.

Tortella: If someone gave you a plane ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Broome: I would travel somewhere like Africa or Costa Rica to volunteer and help kids in need.

Tortella: Go-to snack food?

Broome: Mott’s Fruit Snacks.

Tortella: Favorite artist and song?

Broome: My favorite artist is Lil’ Baby and my favorite song is “The Days Notion Remix” by Chrystal.

Tortella: What do you see yourself accomplishing in the next 10 years?

Broome: I see myself graduating from college and becoming an elementary school teacher. I would like to accomplish adopting a dog and buying my dream car.

Tortella: Who are three people, dead or alive, you would have dinner with?

Broome: Drake, Lil’ Baby and Channing Tatum.

Tortella: What goes into choosing your ideal college, and will you be looking to play sports at the next level?

Broome: My ideal college is somewhere by the beach, with warm weather. A football team and diverse amount of people. I’m still deciding whether I will play field hockey and lacrosse in college.

Contact Brian Tortella: btortreportssj@gmail.com.