Kat Roche speaks virtually to the Unionville community about her experience.
Maggie Xin ‘27
REPORTER
On November 12, Unionville alumna Kat Roche reconnected with the high school to share her rugby story and experience. Originally from Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, Roche graduated from the high school in 2012 and went on to play rugby at North Carolina State University. She made history as first female lead referee in Major League Rugby in 2021; furthermore, just this summer, she became one of two Americans who were the first to officiate rugby at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Though still quite young, Roche has had a very successful career.
Contacted by Athletic Director, Mr. Joe Vogler, Roche agreed to speak to the Values Ambassadors Committee as well as the Unionville Student Athlete Advisory Committee virtually about values. Centered on the value of respect, the session started off with Roche recounting, “We had values for the officiating team at the Olympics. Our very first value was respect, which meant respecting the game, respecting the players, respecting each other and respecting yourself.” Roche then spoke up on her own belief regarding respect. Although many people consider respect a gift to be earned, Roche believes that respect is something to be given automatically. The audience agreed with her words. Social studies teacher and boys soccer coach Mr. Andrew Cordrey added, “Now I’m thinking that we should think about respect as something that we do proactively versus reactively.”
To close, Roche shared helpful advice to students who wish to pursue a career surrounding athletics. She encouraged students to seize opportunities as well as to not let mistakes ruin one’s mental state when playing. In her words, “When you make a bad call and the player looks at you like they can’t believe what you just did, you will feel that way too. Park it in your mind and move on. In the game, you can’t let that compound.”
Roche has left her mark on the Unionville community by inspiring many students as well as fulfilling the role of a mentor and a model for student athletes.
