Going into her senior year, Pepa Serrano was already a three time first team All-Conference selection, and was named to an All-American team. She followed that with a senior year that has seen her break the all-time assists record at St. Joe’s and be selected to compete in the National Field Hockey Association (NFHCA) senior game.
The Buenos Aires, Argentina native captured her fourth conference title in four years. She currently is second on the no. 11 ranked Hawks in points and leads the team in assists. However, if it wasn’t for a message in her locker from former Hawk great Anna Willocks ’18, she wouldn’t have known she was on the verge of breaking the assists record.
“I didn’t know that I was almost going to break it,” Serrano said. “I knew my ex teammate Anna had it and before she left she left me a note saying ‘You better break my record,’ so I knew I was close. I keep in touch with her, so it was pretty cool when I did it.” Serrano said as her career winds down, she wants her legacy as a Hawk to be more than just her name in the record book. She wants to be remembered for how she played the game.
“I always play with passion,” Serrano said. “I think that’s a really good thing to leave to my teammates and future Hawks.”
Head Coach Lynn Farquhar used the same word, “passion,” when describing what Serrano brings to the team.
“[It] is incredibly contagious,” Farquhar said. “We rely on her to bring that intensity. She’s the heart of our midfield. She’s done a lot of work to hone in that passion and get her teammates on board. She’s kind of a fireball out there. As a senior, she’s been a great leader just using her voice. Every year she’s been able to communicate more and more.”
Serrano said her selection to play in the NFHCA senior game was a culmination of her work throughout her four years on Hawk Hill.
“I was not expecting that,” Serrano said. “I’m really happy and that came because we’ve been working so hard these past four years. As a Hawk, I’m really happy to represent St. Joe’s there.”
Senior goalie Victoria Kammerinke, who was also selected to play in the senior game, said to be able to take the field one more time with Serrano will be special.
“It means everything, because we’ve been here from day one and every single day here together,” Kammerinke said. “The same grade and just coming from far away. That is how we really connect.”
The two both came to St. Joe’s from outside of the U.S. and in their final year as Hawks, Farquhar said the leadership from her seniors is something she relies on for the team’s success.
“With this group of eight, and Pepa [Serrano] is a huge part of that, this is the best leadership I’ve seen since I’ve been here, which is a huge compliment,” Farquhar said.
The seniorclass, and Serrano specifically, have been a huge part of the team’s success and something that will be difficult to replace moving forward according to Farquhar.
“I think we’re going to have big shoes to fill when she leaves and we’re going to have to figure out a way to step up and perform,” Farquhar said. “She sure has left a big statement in regards to the style of play, the intensity of play, her stats speak for themselves. The most important thing about Pepa [Serrano] is she loves the team and she wants the team to go far.”
