Princeton's Hawley signs with Barton

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on February 21, 2016 12:06 PM

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PRINCETON -- The jersey matters.

Some athletes relish the notion of wearing one in hopes of sharing an idol's number, as if the connection will take their play to greater heights. Others believe their surname stitched in school colors provides them a link to future contract dollars.

But for Princeton High senior Chelsea Hawley, who on Friday signed a national letter-of-intent to play collegiate soccer at Barton College, it simply means wearing it -- as an expression of hard work -- all the time.

After all, her prep athletic portfolio reads like the Grand Central line schedule at rush hour.

Cross Country? Check -- she ran the 500 meters.

Track and field? Double check. Whilst her peers were Christmas shopping, she was sweating out the indoor 500.

And when she wasn't busy training and running, or running and training and running some more -- she was found at the point guard slot, directing and defending the Bulldogs' attack for head varsity girls' basketball coach Marty Gurganus.

Then there is soccer, of course -- always soccer.

Those who know Hawley best simply smile and shake their head when asked about her commitment to Princeton athletics -- the hours, simply put, are mystifying.

"She's an exceptional athlete," Gurganus noted. "She takes care of herself, eats right ... does a lot of conditioning outside the normal practice a coach may have."

And the results speak for themselves.

Hawley has logged 90 varsity basketball contests, innumerable cross country and indoor events, and played 33 matches on the futbol pitch -- a place where she just so happens to be incredibly prolific.

To date, the senior has filed 43 goals and 33 assists -- outstanding numbers that must improve, however, if the Bulldogs are to offset the sting of last year's second-round playoff loss to Woods Charter School.

"We lost a lot of seniors," she said, "but we're starting fresh."

Just as she will do this fall at Barton College, a place chosen after brief consideration of the East Carolina and William Peace University programs.

Fitting into a starting collegiate rotation as a true freshman, however, will be nothing short of difficult. But not to worry, Hawley's itinerary is set.

"Just more work," she said with a smile, "skill work, footwork ... agility. Drills. Things like that. I have to keep practicing."

Spoken like a true worker bee with eyes for the road ahead.

So perhaps it's Gurganus -- a man familiar with all things Princeton -- who provides the best perspective on Hawley's career.

"She's left that mark on all of us," he said. "And it'll take some time to find another athlete to play the sports she's played -- and at the same level. She didn't just participate. She excelled."

Because to Hawley, the jersey matters.