Sophomore forward Annie Pankowski had already compiled an impressive enough season to be nominated for the Patty Kazmaier Award, which is given to the top college women’s hockey player in the nation.
Maybe even more impressive, though, is her work in the classroom. While leading the No. 2-ranked Badgers in points this year, Pankowski earned a 3.85 grade point average, which was good enough to be placed on the Dean’s List.
“I just really care. I really care how well I do in school and how well I do on the ice so I think that kind of propels me forward,” Pankowski said.
The sophomore, who scored 22 goals and had a whopping 36 assists this past season, said that she studies every chance she gets. She is majoring in zoology and wants to go to veterinary school after she earns her undergraduate degree.
A native of Laguna Hills, Calif., both of Pankowski’s parents are veterinarians. Her mother works in orthopedics and her father used to work on a racetrack with large animals before he stopped to help manage his wife’s practice.
The influence of Pankowski’s parents has rubbed off on her, as she works in a vet school orthopedics lab at UW. For this experience, she receives two academic credits. ?Pankowski said she is helping to work on two projects, one involving the regrowth of nerves and prosthetics and the other examining fractured bones and the use of screws.
Division 1 hockey, her academic load and the lab work require Pankowski to balance her schedule so that she doesn’t feel too overwhelmed.
“I usually go in [to the lab] Tuesdays and Thursdays because I managed to have all my course loads on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. So I have one class Tuesday and I can go into the lab Tuesday, Thursday,” Pankowski said.
In fact, she tries to heed the advice of her strength coach, Jim Snider, who says that every hour of sleep before midnight counts as double. She works hard during the day in order to prevent staying up late, which could have a detrimental effect on her athletic performance. Despite her schedule, she still has free time, which is a testament to her work ethic. ?
“I have the mentality that I do what I need to do, so I can do what I want to do, when I want to do it,” Pankowski said. “So I usually try to get my stuff done pretty early.”
Freshman Sam Cogan, a linemate of Pankowski’s who has earned WCHA Rookie of the Month honors twice this season, discussed her teammate’s impressive approach.
“She’s one of the hardest working people I know. She’s really determined and goal-oriented and she knows what she wants,” Cogan said.
Although Cogan has never studied with Pankowski, she has noticed her intelligence on the hockey rink.
“I was kind of getting down on my shot, I was like, ‘Oh my god I can’t shoot,’ but then she was giving me pointers so that’s a big help on the ice,” Cogan said. “Also with her play, you can tell that she’s always analyzing the ice and where she should be and what’s going to happen next.”
Even as the Badgers continued their postseason push, Pankowski faced the tall task of staying focused on schoolwork while also dealing with the intensity of playing on a team with national championship aspirations. Nonetheless, she views her busy schedule with a positive attitude.
“Sometimes it’s a good escape for me. I enjoy learning so it’s nice to take a break from the pressures of hockey,” Pankowski said. “It takes a little bit to remember that it’s [hockey] not your whole life. It brings me back down to earth and humbles me a little bit.”
