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Timberlane's Cannon is the epitome of a scholar-athlete

Tuesday, October, 02 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

PLAISTOW, N.H. | Timberlane field hockey coach Mim Ryan may need to switch some personnel around Friday when the Owls host two-time defending champion Salem in a Class L showdown of unbeatens.

On the other hand, with senior Sarah Cannon on the team, that won't be a problem.

The star-laden Owls boast the Sickel twins, Chelsea and Julie, who are headed to Kent State on scholarship, standouts like Annie Hansbury and Stephanie Glazier, as well as last year's leading scorer, Kaitlyn Lavallee. Under the circumstances, Cannon sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. But Cannon certainly does not get overlooked by Ryan, who knows she can count on the senior halfback when adjustments are needed.

"She is definitely the most versatile player I have," said Ryan, who has coached for 27 years. "She can play on any line I have. She is very, very steady and very unselfish. "I told her at the beginning of the year that I could and might use her anywhere and she just said 'OK.' Right now, I need her on defense, but I've had her at midfield and if we need a little more offense, I might put her at forward." A four-year starter, Cannon played primarily defense as a freshman and sophomore, was switched to midfield last year and has played a little of both this year. It doesn't matter to her.

"I really don't care where I play," said Cannon, who was second-team All-Class L last year. "I might like playing up a little, but the coach needs me for defense, so that's fine."

Of course, Cannon is accustomed to doing whatever it takes to be successful, and she has been successful in virtually everything she has gotten into, with academics topping the list.

Ranked No. 1 in her class of 423 students, she scored a combined 2,190 in her SATs, headlined by a perfect 800 in math. She took both the AP calculus and physics test and scored a five in both, which is the highest possible score. And last week she found out that she is a National Merit Scholar semifinalist.

Not surprisingly, Cannon believes there is common ground between success in academics and athletics.

"I think you need to have concentration on what's going on in both, and you apply what you have learned to different situations," said Cannon, whose younger sister, Emily, is also on the Timberlane field hockey team.

Always one to stay busy, Cannon plays the flute in the concert band and the piccolo in the marching band. She also works part-time at the Atkinson Village Store.

As far as field hockey is concerned, Ryan believes that Cannon could play at least Division 2 in college. Cannon's top choices are Bowdoin and Tufts.

"Either one would be a great fit for her because she is definitely a student-athlete," said Ryan. "She does it all." And Friday, she'll do whatever is asked against Salem.