Scholar-Athlete Spotlight: Annalise Caulfield of John Carroll

| By: Karson Martin, John Carroll University
University Heights, OH - This month's NCAC Scholar-Athlete Spotlight features a dual-sport athlete who puts the "student" in student-athlete.
 
To say Annalise Caulfield has impacted everything she's been a part of would be an understatement. From the field hockey team to the lacrosse team to her many campus involvements, Caulfield has been a core contributor to each.
 
This feature tells Caulfield's story and highlights her contributions to John Carroll.
 
The John Carroll Community
 
A native of Long Valley, New Jersey, Caulfield attended West Morris Central High School, where she was a member of the varsity women's lacrosse team, varsity field hockey team, National Honors Society, and National Chinese Honors Society.
 
She first started looking at Carroll because of the numerous emails she had received from the women's lacrosse coaching staff. Caulfield recalls, "I was uninterested at first, but I eventually came out for a recruit visit. Once I was on campus, I was hooked by the architecture, programs, and most importantly the community." 
 
At John Carroll, she is studying Mathematics with minors in Physics and Economics. After graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD in Mathematical Physics with the goal of eventually working in a national lab or as a quantitative researcher.
 
Around campus, Caulfield is involved in numerous ways. For the last two years, she has served as the Community and Culture Coordinator and as a tour guide for John Carroll. She is also a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, part of the Panhellenic Council, as well as the Women in Business Club, Sales Club, Maths Club, and Morgan's Message. Through her work with Morgan's Message, she has helped to promote the importance of mental health awareness for student-athletes.
 
She is also a member of two honor societies: Pi Mu Epsilon and Order of Omega.
 
Her smarts show up not only on the field, but in the classroom as well. Caulfield has maintained a strong GPA throughout her college career, earning 2025 Academic All-OAC Honors, a spot on the 2025-26 NCAC Dr. Gordon Collins Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll, and a selection to the 2026 IWLCA Academic Honor Roll.
 
A Member of the Inaugural Field Hockey Team
 
Arriving at John Carroll with plans to only compete on the varsity women's lacrosse team, Caulfield was hesitant when she first found out that the University was adding a field hockey team.
 
Caulfield played field hockey in high school and was even a 2-year varsity letter winner, but she never planned on playing the sport after graduation. With a push from her lacrosse coach, Caulfield reached out to Gina Stephan, the program's new head coach, and it's a good thing she did. Today, she has proven herself to be a huge asset to the field hockey program.
 
Head Coach Gina Stephan cannot talk enough about what an incredible asset Caulfield is to the team.
 
"Annalise has a really analytical brain. She is excellent at pinpointing formations and structures and sees where the gaps are that need to be filled. She is a huge asset in that way; her analytical mind plays a very important role on the field and on the team."
 
As Stephan reflects on Caulfield's character, she attributes her generosity and selflessness to her background. "Annalise comes from a very, very supportive family and I think that is a huge part of who she is. She loves to contribute.
 
 "She is always trying to achieve more, always making sure that everyone on the team is taken care of. That definitely comes from her drive for success and her background of just being a generous person."
 
Caulfield's favorite part of being a member of the John Carroll field hockey team is something that is unexpected – the ability to play a sport that she thought she would never play again.
 
And the greatest gift that being a member of the team has given her is the bonds that she has created with her teammates.
 
Finding a Home in Women's Lacrosse
 
If it weren't for the women's lacrosse coaching staff reaching out to Caulfield, John Carroll would not have even been on her radar.
 
Although she was not recruited by the current staff, Assistant Coaches Britta Treu and Marlo Peck cannot speak more highly of Caulfield.
 
"Every single day at practice, she puts her best foot forward even though she just came from 10 different meetings around campus. She is so well-rounded and a humble role model for all who interact with her," says Treu.
 
A motto that Coach Peck often says is "Be a star in your current role while you work hard for the role you want," and this, says Peck, is exactly what Caulfield does.
 
"She puts in so much work outside of practice just trying to better herself and be a motivator for not only the team, but also the coaching staff."
 
Her Values
 
An important part of Caulfield and her time at John Carroll has been her faith.
 
Throughout her previous lacrosse season, she started a bible study with some of her teammates after practice. She continued this tradition as her field hockey season began.
 
"Prayer and connecting with God have been something that has worked its way into my pre-game and during-game routines," says Caulfield.
 
Listening to worship music and reading her bible before every game is something that grounds her and helps her play with a level head. Throughout games, she finds herself praying during every penalty corner: "Rather than asking for success, I am thanking God for the opportunity to play and asking that he keeps my team safe," says Caulfield.
 
Caulfield wouldn't be the person she is without her support system.
 
"I'm very grateful to have my family's unwavering support throughout my athletic career. They do a really amazing job of making themselves feel close even though we're hundreds of miles apart."
 
"It's a pleasure to coach such a faithful, family-oriented, and confident young woman," says True. "Her faith is admirable, and she is a special athlete to coach."
 
Caulfield is a true representation of what it means to be a Woman of Carroll. From her success on both the field hockey and lacrosse fields, to excelling in the classroom, to living her life with a selfless mindset, to being involved all over campus. Her dedication, character, and commitment to serving others make her a valuable part of the JCU community.

Related Stories

Related Videos

Now Playing: