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Damien Tarala

Damien Tarala

Hometown: Norwalk, CT     Position: Defender     Number:

Stick: Ritual Ultra 95+ Field Hockey Stick

Instagram: @damien.tarala

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2021

Named to the US Men's National Team
Junior Pan American Championship (Bronze - Santiago, Chile)
FIH Odisha Hockey Men's Junior World Cup (15th - Bhubaneswar, India)

PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS

How old were you when you first started playing?

I started field hockey when I was around eight or nine years old. It was offered as a free extracurricular activity and I fell in love.

Who was your favorite athlete growing up? (can be any sport)

I looked up to Kobe Bryant and his competitive mentality. He always brought his desire to compete every game and it was amazing to watch him in action.

What's your go-to pregame meal?

Always some scrambled eggs and toast.

What is your favorite pump-up song?

Lose Yourself by Eminem

Describe your playing style in no more than three words?

Fast, Aggressive, Sharp

What is your secret talent?

I can improvise on the piano and play most songs that I know by ear.

What is your favorite movie?

Inception

What fictional character would you love to meet?

James Bond

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I've wanted to be an Olympian since I had career day in primary school at age 9.

What do you do when you're not playing field hockey?

Study at Dartmouth College.

What is your favorite food to cook?

Teriyaki chicken with rice and veggies

What is your favorite motivational quote?

"Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise." - Kobe Bryant

What is your favorite place to travel to?

I love going to Taiwan. It's an amazing place, and the food there is unrivaled.

Cake or pie?

Apple Pie

Pineapples on pizza?

A guilty pleasure on occasion

Beach house or cabin?

Beach house, of course.

What is your favorite field hockey memory?

My favorite field hockey memory would be a U14 All-Star Field Hockey Tournament that was organized in Hong Kong where the best players from all the teams would be mixed together and compete. After losing in the finals the previous year, I scored the winning goal for my team. I can still remember the feeling when I received that medal and recognizing in that moment that I wanted to win many more.