Churchville-Chili native Lyndsay Wall is doing what she loves and, though a junior in high school, she doesn't have to attend classes. Every morning from 9 to 11 a.m., Wall and her teammates from the U.S. Women's Olympic Hockey Team tryouts hit the ice for practice. Three days a week, it's off to the weight room for conditioning. Oh, and about class, "I take my classes over the Internet. The teachers back at school have put everything on computer for me so I can live my dream."

That dream is making the 2002 Women's Olympic Hockey Team as a 16 year old. "I was trying out for 16-17 year-old junior national camp this summer; then they asked me back for the 18-19 year old camp and then they asked me back for this. I never thought I was going to be able to have a shot at this at my age - I was shooting for the 2006 Games."

But it won't be easy. Over the next four-plus weeks, the team will be on the road traveling to Salt Lake City, San Jose and Finland among other locations. The closest to western New York is a game in Ithaca in November. That adds up to 20 games in all between now and December against high caliber college all-star teams and the Canadian National Team. This comes after the team had already traveled to China and Russia. Then, sometime before Christmas, head coach Ben Smith and his staff will cut the team down from its current 25-player roster to 20 for the Olympics. "We're going to take the best 20 players, no matter their age or experience," Smith is quoted as saying on the Olympic website.

Her hometown high school and teachers have been more than supportive. The banners still hang in the halls of the school weeks after her send-off rally several weeks ago. It could be quite intimidating at 16 years old, but Lyndsay seems to be taking it all in stride. "The skill level is unbelievable since these are the best women in the country, but I think I'm handling myself okay. My mom comes up to Lake Placid and stays for several days in a row and we talk on the phone a lot. The whole family is coming up for Thanksgiving. The next time I come home is for the holidays at Christmas.

Last season, the Saints high school hockey program had pictures of all of the players with their favorite things and future plans listed. Lyndsay's favorite player is Jaromir Jagr, her favorite food is chicken, favorite subject is Global Studies and her future plans? "Attend a Division I Hockey College and play in the Olympics." Who knew one year ago that they might not necessarily come in that order?