Athlete of the Issue: Liana Chen

COURTSEY OF DEERFIELD COMMUNICATIONS

During her two years at Deerfield, Liana Chen ’25, senior co-captain of the Deerfield Varsity Golf Team, has dedicated her spirit and time to the team around the year. 

Chen began playing golf when she was 10 years old. Under the influence of her parents, she played a wide variety of sports. “I swam competitively when I was younger, ” Chen said, “[b]ut ever since I started playing golf at a higher level, I have had less time to play other sports.”

Prior to her time at Deerfield, Chen had participated in many tournaments for individual golf. “Golf was a very individual sport for me as I grew up, and my time at Deerfield completely changed it,” she said. “I love being in a team where I try my best not only for myself but also for others.” 

“Liana is a terrific golfer,” History & Social Science Teacher and Head Coach Joseph Lyons said, “She maintains a smooth tempo throughout her beautiful swing. When competing, she remains unflappable, able to stay focused regardless of the bad weather or the challenges of the course.”

As a captain, Chen embraced her leadership role by welcoming new players to the team. She also demonstrated consistent care and support for her teammates, despite the emphasis on individual performance in this sport. 

“In which it is easy to focus on one’s own performance, Liana supports her teammates at all times, for she never lets her own performance affect her leadership,” said Mr. Lyons. “She remains positive and calm, and she loves to have fun and laugh. All of these traits make her a great co-captain.” 

Other members of the team also appreciate Chen’s leadership. “Liana is a natural leader on the team,” Deerfield Varsity Golf member Tucker Sichol ’27 said, “As a new member of the golf team, Liana has inspired me to embrace the challenges and has shown me that my teammates are always there when [I] struggle.”

While Chen offered her skills and practical feedback to the team, she also contributed to the team’s culture. She maintained the enthusiastic spirit of the golf team through her humor and lightheartedness. 

“Liana's positivity and supportiveness [are] infectious and always elevate the vibe in the van and the course,” Sichol said, “She fosters joy and humor on the team, always improving the team's attitude and energy. She also naturally wants to help others. On long van rides, she will try to teach me and Aaron Koo [’28] Chinese, which does not go very well.”

Liana enjoys spending time with the team on the course, occasionally engaging in friendly competitions for a meal at the Greer. 

Even during her off-seasons, Chen practiced consistently to improve her techniques. “I spend time in the golf simulator around one to two times a week so I don’t lose my swing. There are some times when the coaches can take us out to play in [the] fall, but it doesn’t happen regularly,” she said. 

Chen had found Deerfield’s golf simulator helpful when practicing in her own time. “We have a trackman system that allows us to analyze swing statistics, which helps me fix my swing,” she said. 

Having committed to Georgetown University early in the fall, Chen will continue her journey in golf in Washington, D.C. “There is a good chance I will play college golf and we’ll see how that goes after I go to Georgetown this coming fall,” she said. 

However, she is still deciding on her long-term commitment to golf. “I love this sport, but I think it’ll become a hobby after [college],” Chen said.