Aim Athlete Q&A: Kassie Stanec Shares U14 Orange Indoor Experience
In our next Aim Athlete Chat, we did a Q&A with Kassie Stanec after her most recent trip to U14 National Indoor Tournament with the U14 Orange Team. The team recently returned from Spooky Nook Sports Complex in Lancaster, PA, where they finished 1-2-2 on the weekend. Kassie and her team had a great experience, playing every game with grit, growth, and heart. Read on to hear more from Kassie about her 2025 NIT experience.
What was your experience like at U14 NIT last week?
It was amazing! We played some teams right at our level so the games were close, challenging and really competitive, and we left each game feeling accomplished! It was really fun seeing some of my teammates experience a tournament that I love so much for the first time.
What were some highlights for yourself and your teammates?
Watching some of my teammates score their first goals ever, and just walking off each game feeling accomplished with our play and intensity! The team was really close and really inclusive to everyone. I also had a blast exploring the complex and just stretching before a game with my teammates and coach.
What did you enjoy most about Aim’s indoor prep practices?
The intensity of practices, you always get to scrimmage different age groups, and it’s so fun to see how shockingly good the older kids are. It motivates you to always try harder to beat them! At the practices, everyone’s puts in extra effort because it’s not year round and every second counts. We learn indoor presses and how to use the boards which is really important and helpful.
What do you love most about the indoor game, and how does it help grow your outdoor game?
It helps grow your game IQ the most because there is so much more thinking involved because of the smaller court, more rules, and pure speed of the game. You have to think constantly and quickly. I also love the skill it requires, such as to receive smoothly or to use quick hands to make your way out of being double teamed. It all makes it different and amazing!
What was the atmosphere of the tournament like?
The perfect mix of serious and fun!! It’s always fun because no matter how many times you do it, it always feels like a new experience each time. The excitement and buzz when walking to your game is so fun and exhilarating – it never gets old.
Any fun memories from this trip that you would like to share?
Spooky Nook is a fun experience in itself there’s always so much going on, and Wilbur’s Chocolate factory is always fun! Walking around and feeding the ducks in Lititz, PA, and seeing horse and buggies on the way to the complex early in the morning always wakes you up right away!
