From Paris to the NCAA, Spotlight on Michigan's Tamer

College athletes have an option to use a waiver to take time off from school and collegiate competition to train and compete for special circumstances – such as an Olympic Games – where eligibility is not effected. Sessa, Tamer, Yeager and Zimmer all opted to take that Olympic Waiver last season, meaning this fall is the first time they are back playing with their college teams since 2022.

Jumping right back into a college season after training with the national team at an elite level and competing in the Olympic Games can be an adjustment. As the college season is about to hit conference tournament play, USA Field Hockey checked in with Paris 2024 Olympian and junior at Michigan, Abby Tamer.

“Being back in college and back with the team after not being there last fall has been interesting but so much fun. It was definitely weird to miss a season and to watch from the television, but my team has been so great and welcoming as I came back. I missed a bit of preseason and even missing that important time, I felt like I barely missed a beat coming back because of the team and coaches.”

Michigan Athletics

For athletes in college, each week you have just a few days to prepare prior to the start of the next game. For USWNT athletes, however, there are months leading up to the start of a competition and once you are there, you have a very small amount of time to prepare for your next opponent.

“Collegiate training is very similar yet very different compared to training with the national team. One main difference is how we are preparing for games each week in college, compared to the national team where we had a long build up to a tournament. This means that we have less time to prepare, so in that sense, it’s almost more fast-paced.”

During their time at the Olympic Games, the USWNT faced off against Argentina, Spain, Australia, Great Britain, and South Africa, all within a span of eight days – their longest break being two days between matches. Despite finishing 1-3-1 and missing out on advancing out of pool play, these athletes competed at the highest level and achieved a great honor of representing the United States at the Olympic Games. Prior to Paris 2024, USA had not qualified a field hockey team since Rio 2016, so this youthful squad came into the games to build experience and confidence, and to generate excitement back home. When asked about her time in Paris, Tamer recalled the emotions.

“The whole experience was so memorable and rewarding, but one notable part was the quality time that we spent as a team, going through the challenges and joys of a high pressure tournament like the Olympics.”

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The opportunity to play in an Olympic Games is one Tamer will never forget, but after the competition concluded, there was a quick turnaround to adjust back into college life. For Tamer, this transition was relatively smooth.

“Acclimating back to Michigan has been great! The team has been awesome and it’s been so fun to be back in the college field hockey environment. There have definitely been some challenges, but my team has been so great at making it as smooth as possible.”

“My favorite part of being back with my college team is just being able to enjoy the time that we spend together again. We have so much fun day in and day out and that’s something that I missed last year.”

Maryland Field Hockey highlighted graduate student Emma DeBerdine’s return to the program after competing at Paris 2024. Read the full story here.