Ava Moore, playing like Ava Moore, is impressive

Ava Moore’s journey is just beginning. And we’re not just talking about her morning commute.

The sophomore field hockey star’s day begins with a 20-minute car ride — just to get to the bus stop each morning. From there, it’s another 45 minutes on the yellow bus before arriving at Camden Catholic High School in Cherry Hill for a full day of classes.

Field hockey follows and it’s a rarity to have sunlight accompany her on her trip home. It’s all in a long day’s work for one dedicated athlete.

“It’s tiring and it’s really hard to manage my time,” Moore said. “But I try to split it up throughout the week so I can get to everything. It’s really fun for me to always be doing something and be active.”

That includes hours of practice and repetition of competitive gymnastics. Moore is a master of the balance beam, among other things, as she has been competing since age 5 at Pinelands Gymnastics Academy, which is near her home in Southampton, a remote and woodsy section of Burlington County.

Her undeniable athleticism in gymnastics transfers well into the sport of field hockey, which she started in fifth grade for her club team Spirit of USA. Moore always seems to have a leg up on the competition on the turf when it comes to speed and balance that she learned on the mats.

“Yeah, the footwork and agility really help me,” Moore said. “I feel like the core strength helps with a little bit of everything.”

Moore burst onto the high school scene as a freshman starter last year, scoring six goals and nine assists, helping the Irish win a Non-Public South Jersey field hockey championship during a 19-3 season. That was just a warm up.

“It was nerve-racking,” Moore said. “I felt like I played timid last year. But this year, I’ve been able to play like myself a little more.”

Playing like Ava Moore is something to be seen. She’s quickly become one of the Irish’s top players as she contributes on every inch of the field, earning the trust of coach Mark Vittese in all situations.

“She plays the entire field,” Vittese said. “She can play any position on the field, she can score goals, and can defend the other team’s best player. She’s a great all-around player. She was playing U19s when she was a U14. She’s used to playing in competitive games and she’s a special player.”

Moore’s outstanding play caught attention on a wider scope as she was selected to play for Team USA’s U16 National Team in January. Moore and her teammates were able to face teams from California and Canada before COVID-19 cut the season short. They were due to travel to different parts of the country as well as overseas before the pandemic changed plans.

“I loved being able to play at such a high level and meet people from all over the world,” Moore said.

In the meantime, Moore is enjoying her sophomore season with Camden Catholic where she has recorded three goals and seven assists through the conclusion of the regular season, which ended on Nov. 14. Camden Catholic was 9-2-1 heading into the playoffs, with both losses coming to Oak Knoll, which has an argument for being the top team in the state. Moore just enjoys taking the field to continue to improve on her already-impressive skill set.

“My coaches always push me harder and get me to be the best version of myself,” Moore said. “And all the seniors have really guided me and helped me become who I am in the past year in both school and on the field.”

Moore is beginning to look at colleges and plans to play field hockey at the next level while pursuing an education in either sports medicine or physical therapy. It all comes down to helping other dedicated athletes.

“It’s still (being involved) in sports and I get to help people recover,” Moore said. “Because I’ve had injuries too, I’d love to be able to get them back to their sports quicker.”

Until then, she’s enjoying her time at Camden Catholic and soaking in every day.

“I really like the coaching staff and the work ethic of the team,” Moore said. “It really feels like a family here. It’s so much fun and I look forward to every day of school.”

No matter how long it takes to get there.