Teddy Tolbert is always looking forward with a focus on the present, but when she does get reflective and looks back at her amazing accomplishments, it comes from the heart – a rock and roll heart. The Pioneer senior was asked about what she will miss the most about playing field hockey for the Pioneers and what special memories she will take with her down the road.
“Other than those two state championships, definitely the people,” she says. “I have had so many coaches over the years who have served as incredible role models and women to look up to. I have also made so many great friendships, and I know I will always be able to reconnect with my PFH teammates. Also, as much as I will try to block it out, I will definitely remember all of the running we did, especially our ‘bootcamp’ days.”
Let’s back up to “those two state championships.”
Tolbert has been a part of the state’s most successful field hockey program for four years. She went to four straight Division 1 State Finals and was on the winning side twice – yeah, those two state championships. The senior passes along much of the credit for the program’s success to legendary coach Jane Nixon.
“She cultivates an atmosphere of connection and hard work,” Tolbert says. “We have so much fun at PFH while still working our hardest every day. She pushes us to build each other up and never give up, which proved successful in our last few games this year. In our last two state championships our biggest strength was our teamwork and connection on the field and none of that could have happened without Jane’s relentless efforts to build team trust.”
This year was a perfect example – when Pioneer upset No. 1 seed and rival Skyline in the championship game in late October in Farmington Hills. The difference in the third time they met – Skyline won the first two games played in the regular season – was in approach.
“I think we knew it was very possible to beat them, as we had been slowly improving throughout the whole season and were the best we had been in those last few games,” Tolbert says. “I personally didn’t want to get my hopes up. I knew it was my last game and I would be sad no matter what, so if I got my hopes up and we lost, it would’ve made it worse. I wanted to prepare myself for any outcome. Because of that I wasn’t as nervous as the year before. I was just excited to play my last game with my teammates.”
And what a game it was – two elite teams going head to head for a state title.
“Our coach’s two big themes for the season were compete and team,” Tolbert says. “We competed by never giving up and scoring two goals in the fourth quarter. And we remained great teammates throughout the whole game. We kept each other in check if we started to talk back to the refs and we used the passing patterns we worked on all season, and we trusted each other.”
It was her mother, Liz, who introduced her to field hockey.
“My mom played field hockey in high school and a little bit in college, and she was my first coach when I started playing in third grade,” Tolbert said. “At first it was just something that connected me with all my friends, but I stuck with it and really love the sport now. I like the variety of the sport, there are so many different cool skills to learn.”
Tolbert has played with the Fer De Lance Field Hockey club since sixth grade. “It has been a great experience,” she says. “I have had so much fun at tournaments and my coaches have always been really supportive of me in and outside of field hockey.”
Teddy, 17, is the daughter of Liz and Tom Tolbert. She also is an excellent student – she has a 3.96 GPA – and is a member of the Pioneer Theater Guild, Pioneer women’s ice hockey and Club Unify.
And it brings us back to her “rock & roll” heart. Tolbert is far from a one hit wonder, excelling in more than just field hockey. She has an incredible singing voice and a strong passion for music and performing, which she hopes to turn into a career.
Last year, Tolbert won Future Stars with her duet partner, Lucy Dineen. See that winning performance below.
“I just love performing in general, whether it’s with a band or theater. It’s a creative outlet for me,” said Tolbert. “It brings me a lot of joy and hopefully does the same for the audience. Winning Future Stars and the state championship games have probably been the best moments of my life.”
She also is the lead singer and plays drums, guitar, piano, and bass for a classic rock cover band and has been in various rock bands since she was 7.
Tolbert will continue to pursue both of her passions at the next level. She has committed to play field hockey at Wesleyan University in Connecticut next year.
“I picked Division 3 because I wanted to play field hockey and still have time to explore my other interests (music and theatre) as well as study abroad,” she said. “I chose Wesleyan because I love the east coast, they have a really great team culture and coaching staff, and I wanted a smaller school.”
A smaller school seemed like the perfect fit for someone with big dreams, incredible talent and a rock & roll heart.
