WPIAL Alum Q&A – Frannie Crouse

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, September 5, 2016 | 7:38 PM

Very few high-school athletes are able to capture a WPIAL Championship. Even fewer are fortunate enough to win a PIAA Championship. Winning an NCAA National Championship, though, is incredibly rare. Frannie Crouse, a soccer standout former at Greensburg Central Catholic and currently at Penn State University, has accomplished all three feats. As a result, she is the first student-athlete profiled for the 2016-17 edition of the WPIAL Alum Q&A.

Crouse had a legendary career with the Centurions, as she set records and established herself as one of the best performers in recent memory. To that point, she held the all-time state record for goals when she graduated. She also was named an All-State performer as both a junior and a senior.

Her individual accomplishments were perhaps only topped by her team’s success in high school. In 2011, the Centurions were 16-0 in regular-season play, earning the top seed in the Class A playoffs. GCC capped off its incredible run through the WPIAL, capturing the title by knocking off Springdale 3-1. Crouse netted a hat trick in that championship victory.

The following year was arguably even better for GCC, as it went 15-1 in the regular campaign, and repeated as Class A champs by edging Sewickley Academy 2-0 at Highmark Stadium. In that match, Crouse provided the offense, scoring twice in a span of minutes. That wasn’t the only gold that the Centurions claimed in 2012, though, as they also won the PIAA Championship, a 5-1 triumph against Conwell-Egan in Hershey.

In 2013, GCC again cruised in the regular campaign, going 14-1, and undefeated in section play. The Centurions were denied the three-peat, though, as Shady Side Academy scored the upset in the championship game. The Centurions got redemption, though, as GCC edged Shady Side Academy in the state playoffs en route to its second-straight PIAA Championship in Class A.

Crouse’s success from high school translated quickly to college, as she became an integral part of the Nittany Lions as a freshman. In 2014, Crouse played in 24 games, including 21 starts, scoring 10 goals and two assists. The forward was named All-Big Ten Second-Team, and was also recognized as an All-Freshman performer. The Nittany Lions went 20-4 that season, making it to the NCAA quarterfinals.

2015 was more of the same for Crouse, as she increased her offensive output to 11 goals and seven assists. In the process, the team enjoyed a historic campaign. PSU captured the Big Ten Tournament Championship in November, courtesy of a victory over Rutgers in the finals. PSU then cruised through the early stages of the NCAA Tournament, making it to the College Cup. From there, the Nittany Lions again defeated Rutgers, 2-0. In that contest, Crouse notched the winning tally. PSU followed up by defeating Duke 1-0 to capture its first NCAA Championship. In the process, Crouse was named to the College Cup All-Tournament team.

This season, Crouse is off to another strong start, with three goals and an assist in five matches. Meanwhile, Penn State is 2-2-1.

Frannie took time from her busy schedule to discuss her emotions of winning the NCAA championship, her favorite class, and what vacation spot she frequents.
 

Q: You were a part of the first ever Penn State women’s soccer national championship. What was the feeling when the final whistle sounded?

A: The final whistle in any other championship game has not been comparable to the 2015 national championship whistle. The last five minutes of that game seemed to have taken forever, but when that whistle blew, a sense of accomplishment and excitement ran through my body. There simply is no other feeling like it. Everything the team and I had worked for had paid off.

Q: Did you have championship aspirations or expectations prior to last season? When did you know your team had the ingredients to go all the way?

A: We go into every season with aspirations of winning. It’s a competitive edge all of my teammates have. We compete and I love being apart of that culture. I knew we had our “ingredients” put together when leading up to the final four we kept getting better and better each game. In our minds, we weren’t giving up. That’s what made us special last year. We continue to have the same aspirations each year.

Q: You scored 22 points as a freshman, and increased your output to 29 points as a sophomore. What allowed for that increase, and what have been your biggest areas of growth since you arrived on campus?

A: My teammates and coaching has allowed me to increase my total points. I think every player has their areas of weakness, but the people around you can help you improve them. Luckily, I have the best of both worlds: the best teammates; best coaches. I have grown as an all-around player. I cannot pin point one specific area, but I have learned to love playing different positions and attacking in a variety of ways.

Q: What do you consider your role to be on the team? And has that changed much now into your junior season?

A: I’m not quite sure what my role on the team is because it can change at any given point in time. I do what my team needs of me, whether that is on the field or on the sideline. As a junior, I have stepped up more with my communication on the field and trying to lead the underclassmen.

Q: Do you set any individual goals prior to the season?

A: I do set individual goals prior to season, both athletically and academically. Throughout the season, I will add new goals to challenge myself.

Q: You now have a fellow WPIAL player on your team, Emma Hasco. Did you have any prior relationship with her, and have you given her any advice so far?

A: Emma played club soccer with my younger sister growing up. I knew her from watching the games and coming over to my house to hang out. Advice I have given Emma is to make it fun, don’t take it too seriously, because it can be difficult.

Q: What led to your decision to attend Penn State?

A: It seems like forever ago that I decided to attend Penn State. For me, it seemed like a perfect fit. Academically, it’s one of the best universities, and the soccer program has always been successful. There is something about walking around Penn State; It pulls you in… it makes you feel at home.

Q: Do you still follow GCC soccer and the WPIAL in general?

A: I have not followed GCC soccer this year, mostly because I don’t have time to come home during the fall to see a game, but I wish them the best of luck. I had some amazing times playing high-school school soccer.

Q: What was your fondest memory in high school?

A: My fondest memory of high school would have to be winning the State Championship my senior year. It was my last game as a high-school student, and the last game I would get to play with my younger sister, Colby. I would go back just to get that chance again to play with her.

Q: What is your major and ideal future profession?

A: I am majoring in advertising in the college of communications. I am not positive on what I want to do yet as my profession. I have a lot of different routes I can take with advertising; I just haven’t found which path yet.

Q: What is your favorite class thus far at PSU?

A: My favorite class thus far would be my advertising class: client/agency relations.

Q: When you aren’t playing or practicing soccer, do you play any other sports or have any hobbies?

A: When I am not playing or practicing soccer…. which is never…Just kidding… I like to play tennis with my family, golf, and I really like to paint and draw as hobbies.

Q: Who is your favorite pro athlete, currently or all time?

A: I don’t have a favorite pro athlete. I don’t know how I could choose just one. There are so many incredible athletes to look up to and aspire to be.

Q: Do you have a pre-game ritual or particular music you listen to beforehand?

A: A pregame ritual I have is when we arrive at Jeffrey field; I don’t get ready inside the team room. I take my cleats, shin guards and socks and sit outside by myself to collect my thoughts. After a couple minutes, I rejoin my team inside and listen to our music as a group. And, of course, I always wear a bow for each game. I guess that’s considered a ritual.

Q: Did you do anything interesting or memorable this summer?

A: This summer I went to the beach with my family. We go to Ocean City, New Jersey every year.

Tags: Greensburg C.C.