Throughout the 2017 field hockey season, UVM Athletics will be catching up with each Catamount rookie for a question-and-answer session. On Tuesday, we sat down with midfielder Pleun Haantjes.

Pleun Haantjes

Hometown: Eindhoven, Netherlands
Major: Economics

Personal

Do you have a nickname?
Well, here I do! Everyone calls me "P" because they can't pronounce my name.
 
Who is your biggest fan and why?
My family and I think my mom is my biggest fan. She always tries to come to a lot of my games and if I criticize myself too much, she would always say that I played well, even if I know that it was not my best game.

What are some things you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I love to watch movies, people could wake me up for a good movie. I like every genre, from a good romantic comedy to a thriller. I just love to think about nothing else than the movie and relax. I also love traveling, going to concerts, playing board or card games in my spare time and just having fun with the people around me.

If you could meet one person in the world who would it be and why?
Oh I actually don't know, the person who first came to mind was Benedict Cumberbatch. I would like to find out if he is a genius in real life like Sherlock (a show that I love). 

Life as a Catamount

What is the best part of being a Catamount?
I know everyone says that if you join a college sports team then you will be a part of a new family, but I didn't really know what it meant until I got here. At UVM, I really feel like I have 22 new sisters and of course another great part of being a Catamount is that I can play field hockey everyday!

What would be one word you'd use to describe your team?
Genuine

What has been your most memorable moment at UVM on-and-off the field thus far?
The UNH game last Sunday! We beat UNH in double overtime and we fought as a team until the end. The feeling I had when we scored that goal was so good, I haven't felt so happy in a long time haha, and that's not because I am not happy. 

Life in Vermont

Why UVM?
I had a really good feeling about UVM when I talked to our coaches and I just followed that feeling. I also love the nature here. If I have time, I would like to go for a walk or a hike and watch the sunset by the lake.
 
How did you react this summer when you reached the summit of Mount Mansfield with your team?
It was so weird, while I was walking around campus I felt like I was in a movie, it was all so American for me. When I first walked on the field I hugged my new teammates and the coaches and I couldn't wait to start playing with them and get to know them better. I think I reacted on everything with a big smile on my face.
 
What's the best part of Vermont that isn't in the Netherlands?
The mountains. The Netherlands is really flat. It is so nice to have a beautiful view while I am walking across campus.
 
What's the best part of the Netherlands that isn't in Vermont?
My family and home are the best part in the Netherlands, unfortunately I couldn't bring them over to Vermont.

Previous Chat With the Cats Features
September 19 - Shannon English
September 13 – Sophia Cheever
September 6 – Claudia Cotter