Julie Leeds is a junior wing for the Mainland Regional High School field hockey team. Glory Days Magazine publisher Dave O’Sullivan caught up with the 16-year-old Northfield resident prior to the Mustangs’ preseason game against Holy Spirit to talk about Mainland’s goals for the season, Leeds’ dream vacation, and what she thought of Miley Cyrus’ much talked about performance at the VMAs this summer. Julie Leeds, a junior at Mainland Regional, said a big goal for the Mustangs this season was beating archrival Ocean City. Mainland accomplished that goal last week with a 2-1 victory over the Red Raiders. (Glory Days Magazine photo/Dave O'Sullivan) Julie Leeds, a junior at Mainland Regional, said a big goal for the Mustangs this season was beating archrival Ocean City. Mainland accomplished that goal last week with a 2-1 victory over the Red Raiders. (Glory Days Magazine photo/Dave O’Sullivan) Sully: How long have you been playing field hockey? Leeds: I started playing my freshman year. That was my first year playing, ever. I used to play softball but I stopped that to just play field hockey. Sully: What’s the toughest thing about field hockey? Leeds: You have to earn your position. It was hard to make varsity this year, you really have to try for it because there are a lot of girls who want to play. Sully: What are your goals for the season? Leeds: Just to work as a team and get to know everyone better. We haven’t all played together on varsity. And we want to beat Ocean City. It’s a really big rivalry. We’ve been trying to beat them for 20 years now. (Editor’s note: Since this interview was conducted, Mainland did beat Ocean City, a 2-1 victory last week in Linwood. It marked the first time Mainland had beaten Ocean City since 1993.) Sully: What’s the coolest thing about going to Mainland? Leeds: I love how everyone is just like a family. You feel at home here, it’s so welcoming. Sully: What’s something you wish was on the lunch menu? Leeds: Well, I bring my lunch. Sully: What does coach Jill Hatz get on your case about? Does she chew you out at practice? Leeds: I guess getting low and getting my feet around the ball. Just all good stuff. Sully: What do your parents get on you about? Leeds: Cleaning my room. I’m really messy and I haven’t cleaned it in a while. My mom yells at me a lot about that. But, I’m a procrastinator. Sully: What did you think of Miley Cyrus at the VMAs? Leeds: It was … something. I try not to judge people, but it’s kind of hard not to. It’s weird because I used to see her on Hannah Montana and now I see her with her butt out on stage. It’s kinda weird. Sully: If you were to go on a dream vacation, where would you like to go and why? Leeds: I guess Greece, because it’s really pretty there. I’m not Greek, but my family is Albanian, like my grandparents. Even though that’s not Greece, it’s close … and Greece is prettier. Sully: What’s it like every year on the first day of school? Leeds: I usually can’t sleep that night (before) because of the anticipation, but I actually like the first day of school. I like seeing everyone I haven’t seen all summer. Sully: Do you have nightmares about forgetting your locker combination? Leeds: No. I have that written down on my hand. Sully: You’re a junior now. What do you think senior year will be like? Leeds: I’m going to love it, because the seniors have the most authority. I’ve been waiting a while for that! I think it will be a lot different. It will be easier in some ways, but stressful at the same time because of college and going away, leaving your friends. Sully: What do you think your last day of high school will be like? Leeds: Honestly? Sad. But I’ll be excited at the same time. It will be bittersweet. Sully: What would your dream job be? Leeds: I haven’t really thought a lot about that and everyone asks me. I like psychology a lot, so maybe something where I’m helping people, something along those lines. Contact Publisher Dave O’Sullivan: sully@acglorydays.com; on Twitter: @GDsullysays.