The Time Is Now, The Place Is Santiago For Rising Field Hockey Star Ashley Sessa
Sessa, who made her national team debut two years ago at 16, will try to lock down an Olympic berth in Santiago, Chile.
Athlete Bio
Height
6'0, 200"
Education
Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall, U.K. ('93)
Born: 26 March 75
Position: GK
Height/Weight: 6-0, 200
International Caps: 34
Years on National Team:
2002 USA National Team
2003 USA National Team
2004 USA National Team
2005 USA National Squad
2006-07 USA National Squad
2007-08 USA National Squad
USA Hometown: San Diego, California
High School: Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall, U.K. ('93)
College:
- Univ. of Central England, Birmingham, U.K.
- 1997 (Law Degree), 1999 Post Grad Diploma in legal practice
Occupation: Lawyer
Playing Career:
- Early Career
Began playing field hockey at school at age 12
- International Highlights
2002 - USA National Team...USA/Chile Series...2003 - Named to the U.S. National Team...Pan American Cup Qualifier Team (Santo Domingo/2nd)...USA Eagles Cal Cup Champions...Pan American Games (Santo Domingo)...U.S. Pan American Games team (5th/Santo Domingo)...2004 - U.S. National Team...Pan American Cup (7th, London, Ontario)...2005 - U.S. National Squad...2006 - U.S. National Squad...Canada Test Series (Chula Vista, Calif)...Named to 2006-07 USA National Squad at USA National Championships (Chula Vista, Calif.)...USA vs. Trinidad & Tobago Test Series (Virginia Beach, Va.)...2007 -USA vs. Mexico Pan American Games Qualifying Series (USA wins series 2-0-1)...USA vs. Trinidad & Tobago tour (Port of Spain, TRI; USA wins series 4-0)...China 4 Nation Tournament Team (4th, CHN, JPN, EGY, USA - Lanzhou City, CHN)...XV Pan American Games Team (Rio de Janeiro, 7th)...2008 - Olympic Qualifying Tournament (Auckland, NZL; 6th_
- National
2006 - USA National Championships (Chula Visa, Calif.)...2007 - Placed 4th at USA National Championships with San Francisco Bay Area High Performance Center (Chula Vista, Calif.)...Named "Goalkeeper of the Tournament" for the National Championships. - Club: Belper (U.K.); Nottingham Hockey Club (U.K.)
Personal:
Nickname: "J.J."
Career High: Captaining my country's team
Career Low: Missing out on the 2003 Pan Am Games semi-finals on goal difference despite beating the Dominican Republic 23-0.
Sport ambition: Medal at Pan Am Games
Ambition after hockey: Continue my legal career
Other than field hockey, my favorite Olympic sport is : Track & field
Most influential person in your sporting career: Alan 'Sinnie' Sinclair. He is one of the most innovative, knowledgeable and perceptive coaches I've ever worked with. He developed my technique and had a real talent for getting the best out of me and my team mates. A knack for teaching players without them realising they were learning. Probably a man slightly ahead of his time.
Before every game I : Eat Jaffa Cakes
Most unusual thing that has happened to you: An Aussie fan asked to take a picture of me holding her baby son!
I can't live without: my laptop
Most people don't know that I: speak German
My philosophy on life: Never be afraid of moving slowly only of standing still.
Favorites: Food: Chicken Tikka Badami (Curry); Movie: Anchorman; Pro Team: San Diego Chargers; Musical Artist: Depends on my mood;
Hobbies: Weight training, club coach Under-13 and Derby College
Major International Competitions:
| Year | Tournament | Site | Position |
| 2008 | Olympic Qualifying Tournament | Auckland, NZL | 6th |
| 2007 | XV Pan American Games | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 7th |
| 2004 | Pan American Cup | London, Ontario CAN | 7th |
| 2003 | Pan American Games | Santo Domingo, DOM | 5th |
| 2003 | Pan American Cup Qualifying Tournament | Santo Domingo, DOM | 2nd |