Photo by Steve Buchanan Photography
Southern High senior Erin Gulden loves to share the picture of her grandfather Marlin Gulden and his five brothers. They all served in the military during the Korean War and World War II. But that’s only part of her family’s commitment to serving in the military.
Her great grandfather, Oscar, was in the Army during World War I, and Gulden’s other grandfather, Michael Ferrick (Navy), two uncles, Michael Ferrick, Jr. (Army) and Mike Gulden (Coast Guard Reserve), and her brother Daniel (Navy), did stints in the service.
“I am very proud of my family that they all took their duty so seriously,” Gulden explains. “I feel it’s part of my duty to carry on the family tradition.”
Gulden plans to join the Army after she graduates from East Carolina University. She’ll attend the school on an Army ROTC scholarship and a lacrosse scholarship. Gulden, a West River resident, will major in criminal justice, and is eyeing a career in law enforcement.
She carried a 3.9 grade-point average and took seven advanced-placement classes while also starting in both basketball and soccer.
“I’m interested in cyber security, homeland security, or serving as an Army Police Officer,” she says. “I really like homeland security and would even like to be an investigations officer. I think the benefits of serving are amazing. That will help me grow up and teach me a lot of skills that I probably won’t learn anywhere else. It will also me help with my career path.”
But until then, she will focus on her academics and lacrosse at East Carolina. West Point, UConn, and Delaware also recruited Gulden, a midfielder.
“I love the coach (Amanda Moore) and the team,” Gulden says of East Carolina. “She is so dynamic with the game. She is someone I can really connect with her and learn a lot.”
Moore is a Bel Air native, so she loves to bring in recruits from the metropolitan area. And she’s expects a lot from the 5-foot-6 Gulden.
“Since we have a young program, she is someone that could be very high in our record books,” says Moore, a fifth-year coach. “She can have a really positive impact on our program. I think her best asset is her determination, whether that’s getting to the cage or winning a ground ball. You see that fire from her on the field.”
Moore first saw Gulden playing for one of the state top club teams, Chesapeake Club Lacrosse. The 17-year-old played five seasons for Chesapeake, which competes in the summer and fall and travels to tournaments as far away as Florida.
“I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t play for that club,” Gulden says. “Julie Norton was my coach throughout my time with Chesapeake. She’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. A lot of my development came from playing under her. My speed really went up and my stick skills really came together.”
Gulden dominated games for Southern girls lacrosse team in her three years as a varsity starter. The point guard on the basketball team showed plenty of leadership, had a tremendous work ethic, and grit and was a standout on defense. Gulden particularly stood out early in her career, totaling 25 goals and 10 assists during her first two seasons.
“For a small player, she would always get pushed around and knocked down,” Southern Girls Lacrosse Coach Arvak Marshall says. “But, she is one tough player. She would pop right back up.
But her eye-catching quickness stood out the most to Marshall. “Her quickness is amazing,” he says. “I am talking about her first step and change of direction. She could beat her defender two or three times.”
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