Achievements In Athletics & Academics

Satnford's Kristy Zurmuhlen: courtesy of Stanford Athletic Dept.Published in The Message For The Week, October 8. 2008
"Fall Mountain's Kristy Zurmuhlen Making Her Mark At Stanford"
In an effort to reward and promote the importance of academics in the lives of our local middle, high school and college student athletes past and present, The Message Sports Department will be running a series of articles about local students who not only excel on the playing field, but also in the classroom.
If you know a local student past or present who deserves recognition, please contact Message Sports Editor Joe Milliken at sports@messagefortheweek.com
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Meet former Fall Mountain Regional High School graduate Kristy Zurmuhlen, arguably the greatest player in the schools’ rich soccer history and now an emerging freshman at prestigious Stanford University, whose women’s soccer team is currently ranked sixth in the nation.
Kristy’s celebrated Lady Wildcats soccer career is nothing short of remarkable; 2007 NSCAA/Adidas High School All–American, a four time, first–team All–State selection, the Girls’ State Player of the Year and the Gatorade New Hampshire Girls Soccer Player of the year in 2007 and 2008.
Ms. Zurmuhlen scored 84 goals and collected 73 assists for her high school career, both school records. She also set the school record for goals in a season with 31, as a freshman.
Want more? Kristy was a member of the Region I Girls’ Olympic Development Program (ODP) team and the New Hampshire State ODP Girls’ Team, played club soccer with Seacoast United (2004-07) that won the 2004 Super Y League North American National Championship, and was named MVP of the finals. She was also named the 2007 Manchester Union Leader All–State Soccer Player of the Year. Academically, Kristy is also a top–notch student, receiving the 2008 NHADA/NHIAA High School Female Athletic/Academic Award.
Now a freshman at Stanford, Kristy has fit into the varsity soccer program quite nicely and is slowly seeing more playing time. “I really feel like playing college soccer is helping me grow as a person and as an athlete,” Zurmuhlen said in a recent email interview. “Competing at such a high level every day is definitely something I have had to adjust to. The speed of play is very fast and physical strength and mental toughness are huge components of success. One of the things I am working on this year is becoming physically stronger to improve my game.”
Zurmuhlen’s coach, Paul Ratcliffe, has been very pleased with not only Kristy’s play and work ethic on the field, but also her personality off the field. “Kristy is doing very well at Stanford and her work ethic and fitness level are fantastic,” Stanford women’s soccer coach Paul Ratcliffe said in a recent interview. “She is making a positive contribution to a very strong team during her freshman year.
“Kristy is also a superb person. She has a great personality and is very well liked by all of her teammates. I am very excited about coaching her during the next four years.”
At press time, the Lady Cardinals are currently ranked No. 6 in the nation and took an undefeated 9–0–1 record into a weekend clash with Bay Area rival Santa Clara in their final non–conference match up of the season.
Although the frosh is currently fighting for more playing time on one of the most talented women’s soccer teams in the country, the former Fall Mountain star leaves no doubt in this editors’ mind that she will continue to grow as a player and soon be making an even greater contribution to Lady Cardinals soccer.