From a young age, junior Caitlin O’Shea has been nothing short of an exceptional athlete. Following in the footsteps of one of her cousins, she took up field hockey at just nine years old and soon after, found herself on the Windy City Field Hockey travel team, commencing on a path that would span eight years. By the age of 14, O’Shea had set her sights on playing at the collegiate level, a dream that has recently become a reality with her recent commitment to play Division I Field Hockey at Indiana University. After years of unwavering determination, O’Shea is set for the Big Ten Conference.
When O’Shea received a call from the Indiana coach regarding her recruitment, her dreams of playing collegiate field hockey came true. “I was at a loss for words. Ever since I visited with the team and coaches in August, I knew it was the place for me,” O’Shea said.
O’Shea came down with Mono earlier this fall, which greatly impacted her recruiting process. She was too sick to take her ACT which was a major requirement amongst many other schools she was talking to. She was able to visit with Indiana prior, and the coaches had been very understanding when she fell ill. “Everything happens for a reason, and I couldn’t be happier,” O’Shea said.
O’Shea has been a Varsity Field Hockey starter throughout her entire high school career, and has been named captain for the 2025 season. O’Shea was named to the Illinois All-State Team in 2024 and 2023, and was a positive asset, pushing her team to win second at State this past October, just falling short to her travel teammates on New Trier. O’Shea played for Windy City’s top travel teams that placed 3rd (2024), 7th (2023), 3rd (2022), and 2nd (2021) at the National Club Championships, as well as playing for Nexus, USA Field Hockey’s Olympic Development program.
O’Shea’s dedication to the sport is unmatched, prioritizing it over her social life. “During the recruitment process and in general, I have always had to make sacrifices to attend college camps and tournaments. Each year, I’ve had tournaments on holidays, over breaks, and during social events,” said O’Shea.
O’Shea is thrilled to be playing for Indiana in the fall of 2026. In addition to her athletic achievements, she has succeeded in her classes and is a well rounded, competitive student. “I chose Indiana for the combination of the amazing coaches and team culture as well as the outstanding business school. The Big Ten is a competitive environment that I can’t wait to be a part of,” O’Shea said.
O’Shea’s remarkable achievements on the field are a direct representation of her work ethic, as she is consistently persistent to accomplish her goals. Caitlin O’Shea proves that anything can be accomplished with determination.
O’Shea is looking forward to what lies ahead of her. “It’s kind of crazy to know where I’m going to college as a junior, but I feel much less stressed now. I’ve already got to connect with a lot of my future teammates and have made plans for when we are all visiting in the spring.”
