The year has just begun, and the girl’s field hockey team is already up to their necks with work. Having won every single game at their practice tournament, our girls are having a great season thus far. Still, they won’t let it get to their heads. Mrs. McFadden is keeping her team active, with up to three practices a week!
“Our goal is to get to OFSA this year,” she reveals. Her eyes lit up talking about her girls and how far they’ve come. She explains that the YRAA isn’t pushing the team as far as they can go.
This year’s team has the drive to excel, even though many of the students have just begun playing. The group of 24 has a total of seven grade 9 girls, many of which tried out for field hockey with no experience! Nonetheless, Coach Melissa and Mrs. McFadden were unfazed. They looked for people who are ‘unafraid of the ball’ and willing to learn quickly. Many team members from the previous years joined again this season and are confident in their skills. If you are considering trying out a new sports team, this is the one!
But what really drives this team and makes them special is the bond between the girls. Kayla Ananiadis, the grade 12 captain, exclaims that they are ‘a little family’. The seniors help out the juniors and their positivity shines through, even in their practices. There’s even a group chat for the team members! There is no animosity between the girls, and they make sure to cheer each other on. Samantha Aube is only in grade 10 but has already proven herself as a captain. The team supports and encourages her in the responsibility, though she is more than capable of handling it.
They even have a tradition; ever heard of Lead Thru Sport? The not-for-profit organization was founded by a St. Augustine alumni, Carmen Law. Carmen struggled with being a girl in a field dominated by men. She founded the organization in the hopes of bringing together girls who have faced judgment for being athletically inclined. Lead Thru Sport does a workshop for high school girls where athletes share the life lessons they learned in sports. Every year, the team plays a game, goes to dinner, and then completes this workshop. Their next one is October 24th
To give credit where credit is due, the coaches for the team are phenomenal. Mrs. McFadden is a kind and energetic woman, leading her girls with passion and warmth. She and Coach Melissa could not be prouder of their team. Coach Melissa is no slouch either. Fun fact: Coach Melissa was actually a police detective who came to St. Augustine on a case! Upon leaving, she noticed a field hockey stick and revealed she used to play the sport in university. A few years later, she was invited to coach for the school team.
We wish the girls good luck on their next few games, and can’t wait to see what they’ll accomplish this year!
By: Chloe William
Titan Times 