Record Pace: Transfer Student-Athlete Grace Bazin '26 Found Everything She Wanted at Keene State
Three years as an Owl, Grace Bazin '26 found at Keene State everything she wanted and felt was missing as a first-year student at another institution.
In a week when campuses celebrate transfer students, we are reminded of how fresh starts, interdisciplinary academics, and new scenery can be transformative.
One hundred and sixty students transferred to Keene State in 2024. They are an essential part of our diverse community.
Grace Bazin ’26 underwent a personal recalibration three years ago and found at Keene State everything she wanted and felt was missing as a first-year student at another institution.
Today, the Westminster, Vermont, native and double major—elementary education and English—is thriving in the classroom and setting records as a standout two-sport student-athlete.
Grace left, and Emma Bazin, transfer students, sisters, and field hockey teammates.
The field hockey team is a microcosm of the College’s transfer population. Grace is one of seven Owls who began their post-secondary education elsewhere. Among them is Grace’s younger sister, Emma, who enrolled at the University of Vermont but left before the Catamounts’ field hockey season began.
Another is Keene High graduate Meg Goodwin (Worcester State) and two other New Hampshire natives, Grace Murphy (Salve Regina) and Sophia Merenda (Dean College). The other transfer players are Alyssandra Vidal (Molloy University), Bella Hemond (Assumption), and Addison Collette (Endicott).
“It’s safe to say, we’ve done well getting top transfer students,” veteran Owl field hockey coach Amy Watson said.
Well, indeed.
Grace’s play is capturing national attention. Her 33 goals this season lead all NCAA players, regardless of division, and her sights are set on the Owls’ all-time single-season scoring mark of 36 goals.
Grace attended the University of New England (UNE) for one year before transferring to Keene State to change her major and to develop her competitive side as an athlete. She is also a top performer on the College’s ice hockey team, which will begin its second season of play as an NCAA entry this winter.
She credits Keene State’s supportive community of advisers, professors, and coaches for making the move easy.
“What I found are all the things I wanted from my college experience,” she says of Keene State.
She will graduate with a degree in elementary education and English. Her legacy as an athlete is still being written.
“Grace had been on our radar for a while, before she found her way to Keene State, so having had her for three seasons has been huge,” Watson says. “We knew she would be a great fit; she is a tenacious competitor, she’s quick, and we had a couple of other impact players we knew she would gel with right away.”
“Sometimes,” she adds, “it’s a tough sell initially to get a local player to consider us right out of high school, but fortunately, we have had some luck getting players back after a year elsewhere. It’s part of our recruiting plan that we look at and talk to all the high school students in the immediate area who we know could play here. Even if they say they’re not interested initially, we build relationships with them, just in case.”
Grace is just the fourth Owl player to record a 30-goal season, and in six out of eight weeks, she has been tabbed Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Week.
Playing defense for the Owls’ first-year NCAA varsity ice hockey team, Grace played in all the squad’s 22 games, scoring two goals, assisting on 10, and racking up 50 shots on goal.
Grace was unhappy at UNE and unwilling to wait for things to magically improve. At Keene State, she immediately felt a sense of comfort and the feeling of a fresh start.
“I am proud of leaving what wasn't making me happy and choosing what's best for me. It wasn’t easy. I’ve never quit or left something in my life; it’s not how I was raised.
“I am so grateful for the team I have and the coaches who have helped me achieve my goals.”
Says Watson, “Grace has done amazing things here, on the field and ice. She is leaving her mark on our program for sure.”