Athlete of the Week: Ellie Rousseau

senior Ellie Rousseau loves sports. She loves field hockey, she loves running, she loves to compete - but mostly she likes to stay busy.

“I get so excited when we have a game, a meet or a practice,” Rousseau said. “I don’t really like to lift weights or work out on my own, but when I’m on a team I’m ready to work hard and get going.”

The 17-year-old senior is co-captain of the field hockey team this fall, and said she has a great relationship with her coach, Linda Collins.

“She’s been a very big influence on me, for sure, very supportive,” Ellie said. “I really think that I’ve become a better player on the field each year and it’s because of her.”

Rousseau enjoys science and biology classes at MHS, and her iPod is loaded with songs by pop sensation Justin Bieber.

“Oh, I’ve got Bieber Fever for sure,” Rousseau said. 

Ellie has no trouble running for a full field hockey game, she runs the 1,000 and the mile for the winter and spring track teams and has steadily been improving her times since she joined the varsity track team as a sophomore.

Rousseau recently played in a field hockey showcase at Disney World in Orlando and caught the eye of several college coaches, including the ones at Mount Holyoke.

“I just returned from a trip to Mount Holyoke where I participated in a recruiting weekend as a direct result of the showcase, I would love to play for Mount Holyoke next fall,” Ellie said.

Rousseau hopes to join her former teammate, Marblehead’s Gretchen Rowe on the field for the Lions next season at forward.

Rousseau lives with her parents and younger brother on Devereaux Terrace.

“I think the team picked me as one of the field hockey captains because I work really hard to improve, and I get along well with the girls on the team,” Rousseau said. “I like to think that I have a good personality and I care about everyone on the team.”

Ellie will miss her friends and her teammates when she moves on from Marblehead High, but there’s still a lot of work to do on the track and on the field. The field hockey team is currently 4-2-2 on the season; Rousseau has chipped in with two goals and two assists so far.

While some people say track is an individual sport, Rousseau says that’s not the case.

“I’m on a team, the track team, it’s important for the team to do well, and we try to support each other as much as we can,” Ellie said. “I’ll miss my teammates and my friends next year, being an athlete at Marblehead High School has been really great.”

The Ellie Rousseau File:

Age – 17

Year – Senior

Favorite food – Steak

Favorite TV show – Law & Order

Favorite movie – Zoolander

Favorite artist - Justin Bieber

Most embarrassing song on my iPod – “I have a lot - a lot of Bieber on there.”

Favorite athlete – Jacoby Ellsbury

Favorite team- The New England Patriots

Dream - To play field hockey in college.