Hey, Chicago!
From Happy Valley to the Windy City, collegiate teammates Penelope Hocking and Ally Schlegel are ready to bring their spirit and skill to the Chicago Red Stars for their rookie season.
Hocking, drafted 7th overall, and Schlegel, drafted 23rd overall, both heard their names called in Philadelphia at the 2023 NWSL Draft.
Schlegel and Hocking reflected on the whirlwind experience in an exclusive interview with GoPSUSports' very own Brian Tripp.
"Draft day was an unforgettable experience," Hocking said. "I always dreamt of hearing my name in the draft and to get to hear it was just so unbelievable. To sit down and then hear Ally's name go to the same team... you couldn't have written a better script."
Prior to draft night, the pair had entertained the idea of landing in the same city. While both knew it was a possibility, neither wanted to get their hopes too high. When it became a reality, it was a special moment.
"It felt so divine," Schlegel said. "It was just an incredible experience, and being there together was so much fun."
Navigating the highs and lows of the time leading up to draft day was another adventure the pair experienced together.
"All the build up to it was extremely stressful," Hocking said. "But the experience made it all worth it." Schlegel can attest to similar feelings.
"There were so many nerves going into it, so much unknown," she said. "Having a teammate there really made such a huge difference."
Hocking and Schlegel got to share the surreal moment of draft night alongside one another, and they were in the presence of some familiar faces.
Penn State coaches, including head coach Erica Dambach, were also in attendance to help support and celebrate Hocking and Schlegel, which comes as no surprise for the Nittany Lions.
"That's Penn State. We are family," Schlegel said. "Having them there was just that extra sense of security."
Their coach's support is not the only thing Hocking and Schlegel are taking to Chicago. For the pair, they plan to carry on the mentality they learned in Happy Valley to the next level.
"The blue collar mentality is such a big piece of Penn State soccer," Hocking said. "Penn State has taught us some great qualities and we're just going to take them wherever we go, and I think it'll lead us to success."
For Schlegel, living by Penn State women's soccer principles have become second nature, and she will continue to bring them to the next chapter of her career.
"Moving forward, those things like the attitude of a champion, blue collar, and united family, are all things we've learned through our culture that are going to lead us to success," Schlegel said.
Hocking and Schlegel are not the only current members of the Red Stars roster who have once worn the blue and white.
They join current Red Stars and USWNT goaltender Alyssa Naeher, who will be in the backfield this season. Naeher reached out to show her support to the duo once they were drafted, which helped the transition for Hocking and Schlegel.
"She's a professional, and she's our captain," Hocking said. "We've been watching her since we were younger because she's been on the national team for a while."
For Hocking and Schlegel, having Naeher's support as they move to the next stage of their careers, while also getting the opportunity to play alongside her, is a feeling like no other.
"Just to have someone that's going to look out for us, who's a veteran and a pro is very awesome." Hocking said. "She's been great."
It's not just a Penn State family affair that will be evident on the field in 2023.
Penelope Hocking will once again play opposite her twin sister, former Arizona Wildcat midfielder/defender Iliana Hocking, who was selected by the New Jersey/New York Gotham in the fourth round of the draft. Penelope, who played four years for the USC Trojans before coming to Happy Valley, went head to head with her sister on a few occasions in college.
"The rivalry continues!" Hocking said. "It's going to be fun."
Matchups between the two calls for an extended Hocking family gathering, which she is looking forward to experiencing again. While Hocking is excited to battle it out on the pitch, she is also thrilled to watch her sister continue to grow and develop as a soccer player.
Penelope Hocking and Ally Schlegel are settling into their new life in Chicago, along with former Nittany Lion goalkeeper Morgan Messner, as the beginning of the NWSL season fast approaches. When they aren't practicing with their new squad, they are busy exploring their new home, getting to know their teammates and experiencing everything the city has to offer.
"The first order of business was trying some incredible Chicago food!" Schlegel said.
From taking the field in SeatGeek Stadium to searching for the best deep-dish pizza, Hocking and Schlegel are moving onto the next step in their careers.
"What better place could we have possibly ended up than a great city like Chicago?" Schlegel said.
From blue and white to the Midwest, the pair are ready to take on the pros. Teammates on the field and friends off the field, they will get to live out their dreams on the big stage playing professional soccer, and they will do it together.
