Only seven percent of all high school student-athletes go on to play at the collegiate level whether that be Division I, Division II, Division III, or NAIA. Being able to play a sport after high school is a huge blessing no matter what school an athlete attends, and Country Day is proud to say that the school has had at least one student go on to play at the next level each year for the past 25 years.
Currently, Country Day’s class of 2024 seniors has five college commits with the first one being field hockey star Kylie Carter. After announcing her commitment to Sewanee: the University of the South on September 10, 2023, she became the first student-athlete in the 2024 class that FWCD knew was going to continue her athletic career in college.
The University of the South is a world-class liberal arts college in Sewanee, Tennessee. Most known for its seminary of the Episcopal Church and breathtaking campus, the University of the South sits on 13,000 acres of land that looks like it’s straight out of a movie no matter the season. What is even better than getting to walk through miles of trees to get to economics class one might ask? It’s definitely getting to play a beloved sport on a beautiful field surrounded by oak and hickory trees.
Field hockey program director Paige Chisholm ’87 has been coaching Carter since seventh grade, when she first began playing, but really began getting close to her in high school when she became her varsity coach. As a coach, Chisholm was able to reach out to recruiters through a recruiting website, but ultimately it was Carter doing the decision making and hard work.
“It was Kylie’s drive, commitment, and talent that got her recruited,” Chisholm said.
Many coaches dream of having athletes that commit to play at the next level, and Chisholm was ecstatic when she heard the news. She got to see one of her athletes, who she also knew since first grade P.E., get the opportunity to continue the sport she loves in college.
“I know how hard she has worked and how many obstacles she has had to overcome,” Chisholm said. “She has poured her heart and soul into field hockey so to see her dream realized is an incredible feeling. It definitely puts tears of happiness in your eyes. I love it when great people are rewarded for their hard work.”
Carter does more than just field hockey: she plays basketball in the winter and runs track in the spring. If anyone wonders where she is after practice, no matter the season, they can find her on the field, court, or track getting extra work in. When someone is as dedicated as Carter is, they never stop working to get better, and that is one of her best qualities.
Shelley Rains, head girls basketball coach, has coached Carter since second grade P.E. She described her as “quiet, but insightful,” and she is a very competitive individual. Carter is always excited for others when they find success, and she constantly cheers them on. This basketball season, Carter was Co-Captain with Carden Kimball ’24 for the second year in a row. She was injured until the last three weeks, but she never stopped supporting her team and was treated like another coach.
In athletics and life, Carter, a self-disciplined person, is always adjusting and working to change for the better, and this has helped her become very responsible and accountable. Rains explained that God, family, and friends are extremely important to Carter, and have helped her become a great athlete and person.
“Kylie will thrive at Sewanee. She adds to the definition of being a great student and teammate. Any advice I would give would be for her to hold on to truths and stay grounded. She has so much to share and give, while maintaining the God-given strength and wisdom to always do the right thing,” Rains said.
Carter’s track and field coach Jared Connaughton has coached her since seventh grade, and he also, like Rains, coached her sister Kenzie Carter ‘20 in middle and high school. Connaughton explained that they have similar characteristics: kind and quiet. In track and field, there are a lot of sprinters and athletes that are loud and boisterous, but Carter is on the quieter side, despite her elite competitiveness and leadership skills.
“Kylie is pretty unassuming, but she does the work and she’s committed to getting better every day. Her toughness, specifically the perseverance after her injury, is incredible,” Connaughton said.
One of Connaughton’s favorite memories of coaching Carter was last year at the SPC meet in April. FWCD was one of the co-hosts, so the majority of his time was spent managing all the events, making sure the athletes were where they needed to be, and helping make sure everything went smoothly. One thing he made sure to do was see Carter before she ran her biggest race: the 100 meter dash.
“I saw Kylie kind of being martialed over to the start line, and I gave her a look like ‘you ready?’. She kinda nodded her head, and then had one of the greatest performances of her life. That sort of knowing that the work has been done, knowing that she has the capabilities to compete at that level and then to do it under pressure was just one of the greatest moments of my coaching career and certainly her athletics journey so far,” Connaughton said.
Fort Worth Country Day is so proud to see Carter play in college next year, and although she’ll be decked out in Tiger gear, she will always be a Falcon at heart.
