The Warrior is not What She Seems

by Andrew Chesebro

Denise Infante's image on the field is that of a warrior, a win-at-all costs competitor who would rather knock you down than go around you. Her teammates, coaches and opposition all know this. What her teammates and coaches also know about her, something the opposition does not, is that off the field Denise's personality could not be further from this. The senior defensive star is in all actuality a warm, kind hearted person with an intensely strong familial connection and a unique bond between her and two of her sisters created by field hockey and tradition.

Denise, a native of Santiago, Chile, spent her entire childhood and adolescence growing up in the country she calls home. Part of growing up in Chile is being in a close-knit family. From talking with her it is clear that even today her family is the most important thing in her life.

The Infante family moved to America not as a group, but in separate parts. Denise's father, Roberto, was first to move in May, 2003. A few months later Denise's mother, Denise Vermehren, also made the move with two of her older sisters, Paula and Camila. Denise stayed behind in Chile for a year, without her parents or sisters, while she finished high school. "For me the hardest part of the transition was being alone for a year," Infante said. "Moving to America wasn't too difficult because I attended an American high school and knew the language, but I missed my parents and sisters while they were away."

After graduating from Santiago College, Denise moved to America and was accepted into American University. Camila also attended American and was a starting midfielder on the field hockey team. Paula, a standout collegiate field hockey player in her own right, attended nearby University of Maryland. Despite being in a new country, the three sisters came with a reputation.

"I was contacted by the family in the summer of 2003," Head Coach Steve Jennings said. "Because of the high volume of information we get from international players I did not expect much to come from our initial talks. They sent me a videotape of Paula, Camila and Denise all playing and I couldn't tell who was who. What I could tell though was that they were all good."

After receiving the tape, Jennings flew to Chile to watch Paula and Camila play for the national team. Denise was too young for Jennings to contact. Watching the two play made an impression on the coach. "Infantes, as a rule, are all incredible athletes with great stick skills and the ability to handle pressure. It was a no-brainer to try and get them."

While still in Chile, Denise's close ties to her sisters kept her in contact with Jennings. Once enrolled at AU, she made an immediate impact on the team. Putting herself in a leadership position, Denise acted as a `big sister' towards others. "Denise may come across as pushy on the field but on the inside she is very soft and cares about her relationships with her teammates and others," Jennings said.

The Doctor, as she is nicknamed, is also very protective of teammates and is often the first to respond to an injury. "One time my friend got a cut in her mouth while playing," Infante said. "I got blood all over my hands trying to help her. I just reacted, I never really thought about it." Jennings attributes her leadership qualities to her deep rooted family values which he feels roll over into the strong feelings she has for her team and a desire to be part of a big group.

While playing at different schools the three sisters remained very close and supportive. Whenever their schedules would allow they would visit one another or attend the others' games. However, that same bond sometimes made the game of field hockey difficult. Three times Denise and Camila played Paula and the Terrapins, each time bringing about mixed feelings. Any success that their team would have would inevitably mean failure for the other. "They hated playing each other," Jennings said. "It was very difficult for them."

Life as a college athlete is often very hectic but Denise has never let it get in the way of spending time with her family. She routinely visits her home country to see family still there. "I never get a summer break. Visiting my family I am almost always in the winter season," Infante said.

For all her success as an All-American, All-Region and All-Patriot League field hockey defender, Denise Infante has even greater success with her family. The bond built between her and her sisters transcends field hockey in a way that most people could never understand. What most people know of Denise is really just a small slice of her. To truly know Denise Infante is to know the epitome of a friend and a family member.