From Hoosier to Jayhockey: Meg Larkin Honored with NFHCA Junior Hockey Award
9/8/2025 3:00:00 PM | Field Hockey
From Hoosier to Jayhockey: Meg Larkin Honored with NFHCA Junior Hockey Award
By Logan LeGrett
LAWRENCE, Kan. —Meg Larkin, founder and director of Kansas Jayhockey, has been named the recipient of the 2025 NFHCA Junior Hockey Award, honoring her work in developing the game for athletes under 13. The Indiana Field Hockey alum will be recognized at the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's annual convention in 2026.
"It was a really big honor, and I was very surprised," Larkin said. "This will continue to help motivate and keep that passion going here in Kansas."
When Meg Larkin and her family moved to Lawrence, Kansas, she knew she wanted her four children to grow up with the opportunity to fall in love with the game that helped mold her into the person she is today. Larkin, a physician assistant, decided to quit her job and founded the first field hockey program in Lawrence, Kansas. After just two years of building a program from scratch, Kansas Jayhockey now consists of more than 60 active members and has donated hundreds of sticks to kids across Kansas.
Founded in 2024, Kansas Jayhockey has quickly grown from a handful of kids with borrowed sticks. In just 18 months, she has built the program up to receive national attention, but Larkin didn't found Kansas Jayhockey for personal glory.
"I wanted to start Kansas Jayhockey because I have four children, and I wanted to share this sport with the kids of Lawrence, starting with my own," Larkin said. "My focus has been on youth programs to instill a love for field hockey in the youth … hopefully, at this young age, they will continue to develop skills and have more knowledge. Long-term, the goal will be to try to get it in Kansas high schools."
To do this, Larkin has focused on spending her time volunteering and finding ways to pique kids' interest in the sport.
"Particularly this past year, I was in quite a few PE classes," Larkin said. "The PE teachers welcomed me in, and I would usually spend three or four days in a row at each school."
Larkin, who has been playing since she took her first steps as a child, understands the value of growing up in a team setting.
"Team sports give you such a unique opportunity, and I think it's just pivotal for developing kids," she said. "The thought of my girls not ever picking up a stick or being on a team made me so sad."
While neighboring states such as Missouri, Colorado, and Texas have established programs, Kansas remains a blank spot on the map. In Lawrence, the closest competition is at least a 50-mile commute away.
"Really, in Kansas, there aren't any school teams that have it … I felt that this was a need," said Larkin. "We need to bridge the gap from East Coast to West Coast… In just 18 months, I have gotten sticks into hundreds of kids' hands."
The rapid growth hasn't come without challenges. Securing fields, referees, and equipment has been difficult. Lawrence lacks a field lined specifically for field hockey, and Larkin often makes do with borrowed space.
"I don't have a home field, so I can't really host anything yet," Larkin said. "But I know all good things take time."
As with any new business, Kansas Jayhockey has been a difficult expenditure. Larkin estimates she has spent far more than she has taken in, but field hockey equipment can often cost upward of $200, so she keeps registration fees below $20 to make the sport accessible.
"I'm not in this to make money … I'm actually losing money each year," she said. "I just want everyone who wants to try to play to have the opportunity because field hockey is an expensive sport."
Like her own children, Larkin was introduced to the sport of field hockey at a young age by her mother, Kelly Yates. Larkin's older sister, Kate O'Connell Graft, has served as a mentor, best friend, and teammate throughout Larkin's life.
"Interestingly, my mom has also made [field hockey] her own career, as she developed one of the biggest clubs in the Midwest called Gateway Field Hockey, which is still run by my mom and sister to this day, so it's definitely a family affair."
Gateway Field Hockey, which operates in Larkin's hometown of Saint Louis, has donated a large amount of equipment to make Kansas Jayhockey possible. Another club, Kansas City Field Hockey, run by Larkin's longtime friend Bram Strookman and co-founded by Meg Larkin before she moved to Lawrence, has welcomed Jayhockey to numerous clinics and tournaments.
"Friends show up when you need them."
While Larkin's passion for field hockey blossomed from her mother's coaching, she and her sister both suited up for the Hoosiers, where she formed lifelong friendships and memories.
"Field hockey at Indiana has left a long-standing special place in my heart," Larkin said. "My fondest memories of life were with Indiana. Just putting on the uniform and competing at NCAA [tournaments], those years really helped build character."
Today, Meg and Kate's teammates, Kayla Bashore and Dani Castro, coach at Indiana, with Kayla Bashore being named head coach of the Hoosiers in 2019.
"Kayla and Dani were teammates and captains I had the privilege to look up to, play with, and learn from," Larkin said. "Also, a huge shout-out to Kayla for driving nine hours to Lawrence, Kansas, in 2024 with her own kids, out of the goodness of her heart, to share her time and talents to help grow field hockey in Kansas by running a clinic for me."
Since taking over in 2019, Bashore has taken the Hoosiers to two Big Ten Tournament appearances (2021 and 2024) while coaching a number of student-athletes to all-conference and all-region recognition.
"They (Bashore and Castro) have the exact same passion that any of us alumni have," Larkin said. "The program is so lucky to have them, and competition has never been higher."
After a standout playing career at Indiana, Larkin pursued medicine, working as a physician assistant in the field of organ transplants. She stepped away after her fourth child but quickly found herself drawn back to the game that shaped her youth.
"Coaching little kids tests my patience," she said with a laugh. "But field hockey is more the gift of joy for me."
That perspective comes from her years in medicine.
"I think since I've seen what life and death really are, it gives me a better perspective as a coach," she said. "It's more humbling now because I actually am less competitive. Now I just want kids to enjoy the sport and find joy in it."
Larkin's long-term vision is clear: more opportunities for kids in Kansas. She has already reached out to the Kansas State High School Activities Association about adding field hockey as a sanctioned sport.
"I basically just said I'm starting something from the ground up, but I was eager to help in any kind of capacity," she said. "Female sports are so important for teamwork, discipline, community … and at that age, you just need something to keep you out of trouble."
For now, she's proud of what Kansas Jayhockey has become and excited for what's ahead.
"It is my true honor to share my passion for the game with the city of Lawrence, and hopefully, one day, all of Kansas."
By Logan LeGrett
LAWRENCE, Kan. —Meg Larkin, founder and director of Kansas Jayhockey, has been named the recipient of the 2025 NFHCA Junior Hockey Award, honoring her work in developing the game for athletes under 13. The Indiana Field Hockey alum will be recognized at the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's annual convention in 2026.
"It was a really big honor, and I was very surprised," Larkin said. "This will continue to help motivate and keep that passion going here in Kansas."
When Meg Larkin and her family moved to Lawrence, Kansas, she knew she wanted her four children to grow up with the opportunity to fall in love with the game that helped mold her into the person she is today. Larkin, a physician assistant, decided to quit her job and founded the first field hockey program in Lawrence, Kansas. After just two years of building a program from scratch, Kansas Jayhockey now consists of more than 60 active members and has donated hundreds of sticks to kids across Kansas.
Founded in 2024, Kansas Jayhockey has quickly grown from a handful of kids with borrowed sticks. In just 18 months, she has built the program up to receive national attention, but Larkin didn't found Kansas Jayhockey for personal glory.
"I wanted to start Kansas Jayhockey because I have four children, and I wanted to share this sport with the kids of Lawrence, starting with my own," Larkin said. "My focus has been on youth programs to instill a love for field hockey in the youth … hopefully, at this young age, they will continue to develop skills and have more knowledge. Long-term, the goal will be to try to get it in Kansas high schools."
To do this, Larkin has focused on spending her time volunteering and finding ways to pique kids' interest in the sport.
"Particularly this past year, I was in quite a few PE classes," Larkin said. "The PE teachers welcomed me in, and I would usually spend three or four days in a row at each school."
Larkin, who has been playing since she took her first steps as a child, understands the value of growing up in a team setting.
"Team sports give you such a unique opportunity, and I think it's just pivotal for developing kids," she said. "The thought of my girls not ever picking up a stick or being on a team made me so sad."
While neighboring states such as Missouri, Colorado, and Texas have established programs, Kansas remains a blank spot on the map. In Lawrence, the closest competition is at least a 50-mile commute away.
"Really, in Kansas, there aren't any school teams that have it … I felt that this was a need," said Larkin. "We need to bridge the gap from East Coast to West Coast… In just 18 months, I have gotten sticks into hundreds of kids' hands."
The rapid growth hasn't come without challenges. Securing fields, referees, and equipment has been difficult. Lawrence lacks a field lined specifically for field hockey, and Larkin often makes do with borrowed space.
"I don't have a home field, so I can't really host anything yet," Larkin said. "But I know all good things take time."
As with any new business, Kansas Jayhockey has been a difficult expenditure. Larkin estimates she has spent far more than she has taken in, but field hockey equipment can often cost upward of $200, so she keeps registration fees below $20 to make the sport accessible.
"I'm not in this to make money … I'm actually losing money each year," she said. "I just want everyone who wants to try to play to have the opportunity because field hockey is an expensive sport."
Like her own children, Larkin was introduced to the sport of field hockey at a young age by her mother, Kelly Yates. Larkin's older sister, Kate O'Connell Graft, has served as a mentor, best friend, and teammate throughout Larkin's life.
"Interestingly, my mom has also made [field hockey] her own career, as she developed one of the biggest clubs in the Midwest called Gateway Field Hockey, which is still run by my mom and sister to this day, so it's definitely a family affair."
Gateway Field Hockey, which operates in Larkin's hometown of Saint Louis, has donated a large amount of equipment to make Kansas Jayhockey possible. Another club, Kansas City Field Hockey, run by Larkin's longtime friend Bram Strookman and co-founded by Meg Larkin before she moved to Lawrence, has welcomed Jayhockey to numerous clinics and tournaments.
"Friends show up when you need them."
While Larkin's passion for field hockey blossomed from her mother's coaching, she and her sister both suited up for the Hoosiers, where she formed lifelong friendships and memories.
"Field hockey at Indiana has left a long-standing special place in my heart," Larkin said. "My fondest memories of life were with Indiana. Just putting on the uniform and competing at NCAA [tournaments], those years really helped build character."
Today, Meg and Kate's teammates, Kayla Bashore and Dani Castro, coach at Indiana, with Kayla Bashore being named head coach of the Hoosiers in 2019.
"Kayla and Dani were teammates and captains I had the privilege to look up to, play with, and learn from," Larkin said. "Also, a huge shout-out to Kayla for driving nine hours to Lawrence, Kansas, in 2024 with her own kids, out of the goodness of her heart, to share her time and talents to help grow field hockey in Kansas by running a clinic for me."
Since taking over in 2019, Bashore has taken the Hoosiers to two Big Ten Tournament appearances (2021 and 2024) while coaching a number of student-athletes to all-conference and all-region recognition.
"They (Bashore and Castro) have the exact same passion that any of us alumni have," Larkin said. "The program is so lucky to have them, and competition has never been higher."
After a standout playing career at Indiana, Larkin pursued medicine, working as a physician assistant in the field of organ transplants. She stepped away after her fourth child but quickly found herself drawn back to the game that shaped her youth.
"Coaching little kids tests my patience," she said with a laugh. "But field hockey is more the gift of joy for me."
That perspective comes from her years in medicine.
"I think since I've seen what life and death really are, it gives me a better perspective as a coach," she said. "It's more humbling now because I actually am less competitive. Now I just want kids to enjoy the sport and find joy in it."
Larkin's long-term vision is clear: more opportunities for kids in Kansas. She has already reached out to the Kansas State High School Activities Association about adding field hockey as a sanctioned sport.
"I basically just said I'm starting something from the ground up, but I was eager to help in any kind of capacity," she said. "Female sports are so important for teamwork, discipline, community … and at that age, you just need something to keep you out of trouble."
For now, she's proud of what Kansas Jayhockey has become and excited for what's ahead.
"It is my true honor to share my passion for the game with the city of Lawrence, and hopefully, one day, all of Kansas."
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