Rachel Link Senior Profile

DURHAM, N.C. - Rachel Link of the field hockey team came by GoDuke.com for her senior profile Wednesday. Link talks about why she wears No. 19, what's in her iPod prior to a game, plus much more.

GoDuke.com: What is your nickname?
Rachel Link: Rach, Rachie, Rockelle, Rink (Laura Suchoski)

GD: What do you have in your iPod before a game?
RL: I mix it up. I have some Chili Peppers, Kanye, Michael Jackson, Lil Wayne, Lupe, Missy, and Moulin Rouge.

GD: Why do you wear No. 19?
RL: It's the number of my favorite ice hockey player, Steve Yzerman. He played his entire career with the Detroit Redwings and was the longest serving captain of any team in North American Major League sports history. He's kind of a big deal.

GD: If you could change one rule in your sport, what would it be?
RL: I would say that the ball can hit your feet as long as you don't kick it.

GD: What is your favorite sports movie?
RL: Remember the Titans

GD: What's the last non-school related book you read?
RL: Harry Potter. I know, I'm a genius.

GD: What's your favorite TV show?
RL: Family Guy and America's Next Top Model

GD: What's your favorite food?
RL: Caramel apples

GD: Do you have any pregame rituals?
RL: I shower and shave because it makes me feel lighter and faster.

GD: What's your best non-athletic talent?
RL: I'm a pretty good painter.

GD: If you could have dinner with any four people (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
RL: I would have dinner with Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Vince Vaughn and would probably laugh until my stomach hurt. I love how these comedians have absolutely no shame. They will say or do anything, even if it's completely ridiculous. Our team will spend hours quoting these fine actors and it never gets old, especially Courtney [Elliott] and Brooke [Patterson] who are the quoting connoisseurs of our team. Although Court and Brooke make phenomenal impressions, I think that having dinner with the real people would be quite an amazing night.

GD: What are you planning on doing after graduation?
RL: The plan is to get a job. I'm not quite sure what and where that job will be, but my ideal locations are Philadelphia, New York or Washington D.C.

GD: Who's had the most impact on your life and why?
RL: My mom, dad and sister. We've gone through a lot of difficult times together and we always manage to come out on top. This past summer my mom had a brain hemorrhage. Miraculously, she only suffers from exhaustion, a minor side effect compared to the majority of people that do not survive from this type of injury. This experience tested my family's strength and relationship with God. It put several things in my life into perspective. I realized how someone so influential and supportive in my life could be taken away in an instant and without warning.

GD: What's your favorite memory to date of your college career?
RL: My favorite memory is when we played Wake Forrest in the Final Four. We were down 4-2 and there was a minute left to go in the game. Wake thought that they had the victory in the bag, but we didn't give up. We scored two goals in less than a minute. It was the most exhilarating feeling. It shows that the direction of a game can completely change in a matter of seconds.

GD: What's your favorite part of practice and why?
RL: Warm-up and stretching is definitely the best part of practice. It's the time of the day when everyone can be silly and tell funny stories about our day before it's time to focus and be serious.

GD: If you could be in any movie, what movie would it be?
RL: Moulin Rouge. Ideally, I would sing “Elephant Love Medley” with Ewan McGregor.

GD: What do you do in your free time?
RL: Watch America's Next Top Model marathons

GD: Where is your favorite place to play outside of Duke?
RL: My favorite place “to play” is at the beach. But in terms of field hockey, nowhere else compares to Williams Field. Our new locker room is absolutely incredible.

Players Mentioned

Rachel Link

Laura Suchoski

Duke information