The Mounties: Amanda Volcko

Fourth-year biochemistry student Amanda Volcko grew up as a two-sport athlete, playing soccer since she was five and hockey since she was eight. When she was 12, her family moved from Ontario to Halifax, where she concentrated more on competitive soccer, playing in provincial programs and eventually heading to a national championship in her senior year of high school.

When she was looking at universities, she knew that she wanted to continue playing both sports if she could.

“Mount Allison was just the right fit for me. I could have the combination of academics and athletics. I was originally looking at playing hockey only when I was coming out of high school, but being able to play soccer as well has been a huge bonus and one of the best things to happen to me at Mount A,” says Volcko.

She says the hardest part of being a student-athlete in two sports is balance. Growing up, the soccer and hockey seasons didn’t conflict as much, but Mount Allison soccer began in mid-August and hockey in mid-September. She now has two practices most nights and weekend games. She sometimes has to miss one for the other. In fact, the exhibition hockey season kicks off on Sunday, September 27 at 2 p.m. in Sackville and Volcko will already be playing soccer at 1 p.m. vs. St.FX at home.

In the summer months, she coaches youth soccer and during the academic year she volunteers with Mounties in Motion  — a group of student-athletes that volunteer in local schools to help get kids active. Last year she travelled to Honduras with Mount Allison’s Global Brigades in the area of public health. She also enjoys playing the guitar in the little spare time she does have.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she says. “I have always been really busy and I like it that way.”

Volcko says the revitalization of Mount Allison’s turf field, now named Alumni Field, has made a big difference for athletics and the soccer program.

“There was a charm to the old field, but now playing on a surface that is predictable and consistent with all the other teams will help us continue to be competitive.”

Now in her final year at Mount Allison, Volcko plans to pursue further studies in physiotherapy after graduation, something she believes is a perfect match for her love of science and athletics.

“I will miss my friends and the people I have met here the most,” she says. “ Mount A has allowed me to meet friends from all over the country, which is really great, but also sad that we are all going to be disbursing at the end of this year.

Volcko was recently named Athlete of the Week for September 6-12, 2015 for her two-goal performance in the Soccer Mounties’ season opening win over Dal 3-2.