All that freshman Antonia Parrado can see during a field hockey game is the turf, the ball and the goal — the crowd is merely background noise. Feeling the weight of her opponents’ panic and her team’s pressure on her shoulders, her mission is clear: get the ball past the defense and around the goalkeeper. Parrado sprints to the ball, swings the stick and sends it flying straight into the net, while the goalie dives but fails to make the save. A hush falls across the stands, then a loud bang slams against the backboard. The crowd erupts into cheers, and the commentator roars into the speakers, “Goal by Antonia Parrado!” 

Since she was five years old, Parrado has played in countless field hockey tournaments and accumulated multiple titles, including Whitman field hockey MVP. In 2024, she qualified for the Junior Olympics and that same year won USA Field Hockey’s Nexus Championship. In 2025, she won the Nexus Championship again, as well as the Shooting Star Easter Tournament. However, Parrado said her biggest achievement was qualifying for the National U-16 USA Team in December 2024 because of how selective it was.

Recruiting for the Women’s National Team is a complex, multistep process for carefully selecting the strongest and most skilled players in the U.S. During the process, Parrado needed enough physical strength and grit to make the top cut.

“It all starts with at least 10,000 people, then you cut down to 1,000, 100, and then you have National selection camps,” Parrado said. “So I’ve gone through many processes to actually make it to the team.” 

A day in the life of Antonia Parrado is full of busy tasks and a focus on balance. Parrado said she wakes up, walks to school and completes all her homework during the school day, with as much studying as possible before she gets home. She walks her dog, lifts weights, then plays field hockey for about 2 hours right after. Parrado maintains a consistent, healthy schedule throughout her day, balancing field hockey, academics and family. 

Parrado said securing a position on the national team was one of the best experiences of her life, and she’d never felt more connected to a team before. Achieving this goal proved to her that her hard work paid off, even on days when she lacked motivation. Though the commitment is time-consuming, Parrado said she’s willing to put in the work to balance field hockey and school to maintain her success both on the field and in the classroom. 

Parrado’s journey didn’t start on her own. Growing up, her two older sisters played field hockey competitively and continued in college. Parrado’s inspiration mainly came from the desire to follow in her sisters’ footsteps.

From practicing with her siblings in her backyard to competing in national tournaments, Parrado has developed a strict training schedule that includes at least four strength-training days and field hockey practices each week. The rigor, Parrado said, combined with intense tryouts and selection camps, taught her important life skills, such as handling external pressure. Over time, Parrado learned to manage the stress and use it as motivation to thrive. 

“The pressure is easy to handle knowing that I have support from my coaches and my team,” Parrado said. “There have been some times where the pressure got to me, but I just remembered that I have a lot of people who look up to me.” 

When she had to take a shootout for her club team during a game that determined the team’s qualification for finals, Parrado felt this pressure significantly. She explained that her support from her coach, who affirmed that missing the shot wouldn’t diminish Parrado’s skill, was invaluable during this time. 

High-pressure environments like these are moments where Parrado says she remembers all of the encouragement that surrounds her daily. Although Parrado finds support in her family and coaches, she said her teammates are the ones who continue to shape her experience every day. 

Samantha Kim played club field hockey with Parrado for three years on Bethesda’s Next Level team. Kim highlighted Parrado’s positive attitude on the turf and the sportsmanship she extended to not just her teammates, but also her competitors. Kim explained she considers Parrado a leader of the club because of her passion, positivity and skill on and off the field. 

“She was in a game with my sister, and they were playing at the National Club Championship,” Kim said. “She scored a goal, but she was crying after the goal, not because she was happy, but because she cared so much.” 

Field hockey is ingrained in Parrado’s family. She said throughout her growth, she always looked up to her older sisters Emilia and Daniela, who first taught her to play the sport. Daniela now plays field hockey for FC Barcelona, and Emilia plays Division III field hockey at the University of Rochester. Sharing a love for the sport with her two sisters strengthened their relationship through the countless hours spent practicing and helping each other improve. Emilia expressed pride in her sister’s talent and progression. 

“She’s barely a freshman in high school, and she has the determination of ten people,” Emilia said. “She has a leadership mindset and cares so much about her teammates and friends.”

In addition to advancing in her sport, Parrado also improved leadership, discipline and navigating external expectations. After high school, Parrado hopes to continue developing her skills at a top university with a strong field hockey program. There, she hopes to pursue a degree in criminal psychology, then play field hockey professionally. 

Parrado acknowledged that playing at a collegiate level comes with new challenges, but playing for Team USA has equipped her with the skills to balance academics and sports. 

“I realized that this sport is not only making me stronger physically, but mentally,” Parrado said. “You have to accept failure to see success, even if it’s hard and upsetting.”