Alumna Kirsten Simms Joins TPH Academy for Celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day

On February 7th, 2024, TPH Academy celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day with an organization-wide virtual webinar featuring an inspiring conversation with keynote speaker, TPH Detroit Alumna Kirsten Simms.

TPH Academy was honored to be joined by Simms, a rising hockey star and sophomore women’s hockey player at the University of Wisconsin, where she has made a name for herself with a long list of accolades including, but not limited to: NCAA All Tournament Team (2023), USCHO All-Rookie Team (2023), WCHA All-Rookie Team (2023), HCA Rookie of the Week Watch List and Preseason All-WCHA Team (2023). She has been named WCHA Rookie of the Week (Oct. 23, 2022), WCHA Rookie of the Month (Dec. 2022), and was a WCHA Rookie of the Year Finalist (2023).

On the international level, Simms recently made her U.S. Women’s National Team debut at the highly anticipated Rivalry Series against Canada in December, where Team USA took home the win with the help of a goal by Simms. She also represented the U.S. at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship, where she served as an alternate captain and posted five assists, helping lead the U.S. to silver.

She competed at the 2020 U-18 Women’s World Championship, adding two assists to help her team take home gold. Simms previously skated for the Little Caesar’s Under-19 Team, helping lead the team to victory at the 2022 USA Hockey National Championship, and she also played for the Honeybaked Under-19 team.

Before she was a Wisconsin Badger and a member of Team USA, Simms was a TPH Detroit student-athlete, so it was a full-circle moment for her to join TPH Academy for a webinar on National Girls and Women in Sports Day. TPH Academy team members and student-athletes from across the United States and Canada listened to Simms’ story with excitement. The event served as a valuable opportunity for TPH Academy’s aspiring-elite student-athletes to learn from someone who has experienced the remarkable journey from TPH student-athlete to world champion.

“We were thrilled to have TPH alum Kirsten Simms join us for this special event. Her achievements serve as an inspiration to all of our student-athletes, reminding them that with dedication, passion, and commitment to holistic development, anything is possible,” said Alan Keeso, CEO of TPH Academy. “National Girls and Women in Sports Day is a time to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of female athletes and empower young girls to pursue their dreams in sports – and we could not have asked for a better individual to share her story than Kirsten.” 

Simms shared her experiences, challenges, and triumphs, providing invaluable advice for the student-athletes in attendance. Her story resonated deeply with the audience, leaving them motivated and ready to tackle their own athletic journeys.

“Trust the process – everyone’s path is different,” Simms shared when asked what advice she would give to younger aspiring-elite athletes who want to be champions in their respective sports one day. “You’re not always going to get the outcome you want… But as long as you keep trusting the process and keep trusting your work and the stuff you’re doing every single day, day in and day out, to get where you want to go – you’re going to end up there eventually.”

TPH Academy aims to supercharge the development of student-athletes through a holistic approach towards academics and athletics. Simms encouraged the current student-athletes in attendance to take advantage of their individualized experience at TPH Academy to propel them towards their collegiate and professional sports goals.

“You’re in a room everyday with people who have the same goals as you and want to reach the same heights as you,” Simms began. “Getting to be surrounded by people that have the same mindset and goals as you every single day and are putting in that work just like you are – it’s super nice to have those people to lean on because it doesn’t feel like you’re doing it alone. They can push you harder and you can push them.”

Kirsten Simms and her Wisconsin teammates celebrating their 2023 NCAA National Championship win. / Courtesy of Simms @simmsy22 on Instagram

Simms reflected on her former fellow student-athlete classmates during her time at TPH Detroit.

“I got to look up to kids who are now drafted into the NHL or playing D1 college hockey. It was super cool to get to look up to them every single day and continue to learn.”

With a flood of questions coming in from the student-athletes in the audience, Simms shared her perspective on keeping a positive mindset in a highly competitive sport.

“At the end of the day it’s just sticking to you, and playing what you know,” Simms said. “You gotta trust your game.”

TPH Academy is thrilled to have hosted Kirsten Simms for this special National Girls and Women in Sports Day webinar and extends its deepest gratitude towards her for sharing her journey with current student-athletes. 

For more information about TPH Academy’s commitment to developing the next generation of student-athletes, please visit www.tphacademy.com.