LebCo Female Athlete of the Week: Kailen Hibshman (Week Ending September 22, 2024)

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Kailen Hibshman

ELCO Field Hockey is currently one of the best AA teams in District 3. During the Week of September 15th, the Raiders went 3-0 with wins over Solanco, Donegal, and a previously undefeated Annville-Cleona squad. In those games, ELCO outscored their opponents 17-0. One of the key members of the offensive attack is Kailen Hibshman, with the senior scoring five goals and tallying four assists during those three contests. This performance earned her the votes necessary to be named LebCo Female Athlete of the Week.

Hibshman’s solid play has led Raider Field Hockey to a 13-1-1 record through Saturday. She has 29 goals, 18 assists. After years of solid play, which included an All-State Selection in 2023, her 76 points this season puts her within striking distance of the 200-career point milestone.

When it comes to her goals, Hibshman does not mention her personal goal-scoring. Instead, she told LebCoSports.com that her goals for the season have been “to have a winning season and to be one of the leading people for assists.”
She also reflected on how she sees herself helping the team reach those goals. Hibshman said, “I have seen myself fitting into the team dynamic by trying to help lead the team in working together to stay focused as well as working hard at practice to achieve our main goal of a winning season.”

Coach Kelsey Thorley echoed Hibshman’s selfless approach to helping the Raiders to win thirteen games and become one of the top-ranked teams in District 3. The head coach said, “She may be very skilled, but one of her best and most important qualities is her leadership skills and ability to be a good teammate. She is one of the most selfless players I have ever coached. Kailen doesn’t care about statistics or milestones she just wants her team to be successful and put in their best effort. She has high standards and expectations for her peers but gives them everything they need to meet them.”

Thorley continued saying, “Kailen continues to be the glue in the middle of the field. She is a coach’s player, working as a coach on the field for her teammates and dictating the play for our offensive and defensive units. Her hockey IQ is mature beyond her years, and she possesses the understanding of an established collegiate player that allows her to create offensive opportunities for herself and her teammates that have created high-scoring performances.”

On the subject of Hibshman’s added value to the team, Thorley said, “Our defensive unit is coming into their own, but in those intense defensive moments, you can find Kailen back there steady and anchoring our youth with our senior goalkeeper Aeryn (Marks), that have secured several shutouts this year.”

For Hibshman, it hasn’t always come easy. After a knee injury derailed her freshman year, it continued to plague her until her junior year before she returned to 100%. Throughout the journey, she has had the support of her mother, who got her to play the sport. The senior Hibshman (Lindsey nee Yeiser) made her name as a field hockey player for ELCO, being named All-State, before going on to play at Lebanon Valley College.

Hibshman will be following in her mother’s footsteps, as she is committed to playing collegiately at Stevenson University next Fall, where she hopes to major in either biology or education. Given her track record for success, it is safe to assume that Hibshman will continue to find success on the field and in the classroom.

When talking to Coach Thorley, she pointed to the attributes that have led Hibshman to be successful. She said of Hibshman: She is a really special person and player. Someone that, as a coach, you wish all kids exemplified. She is going to thrive collegiately, and her competitiveness, dedication to preparation, and hockey skills are going to propel her to great heights at that level.”

Thorley summed it up by saying, “She’s an incredible player, but she’s an even better teammate, leader, and friend. Her value is well beyond her statistics, and she has changed this program.”

However, before Hibshman’s impact on the high school program can be fully measured, she still has more games to play in her senior year. The next game is a clash on Tuesday with Annville-Cleona, as the two teams battle it out for the Lancaster Lebanon League Section 3 title. Beyond that, the Raiders are focused on a long postseason push.

We congratulate Kailen on a successful career and wish her and all of her ELCO teammates all the best in playing as many games this season as possible.

Photo provided by ELCO Athletics

Read about this week’s LebCo Male Athlete of the Week: Mitchell Frederick

For a full list of this week’s nominees, check out: Athlete of the Week Voting:  September 16 – 22

Previous Winners

Alaina Miller (Week of August 19th)

Cameron Blouch (Week of August 26th)

Scarlett Meyer (Week of August 26th)

Avery Lechleitner (Week of September 2nd)

Delaney Miller (Week of September 9th)

Lily Rohrer (Week of September 9th)