2017 Field Hockey Preview

In 2014, Westminster added a new program to their wide list of sports. Field hockey started as a club for eighth graders, developing into a JV team for the class of 2018’s freshman year. Now a Varsity-level sport, Westminster’s field hockey team has improved immensely since it’s start 3 years ago. This year’s team, under coach Nancy Schmer, is excited to start their season.

“A strong group of returning starters, exceptional senior leadership plus a promising group of newcomers are what we hope to be the key ingredients to a historical field hockey season,” said Coach Schmer.

The Wildcats’, coming off their last season record of 5 wins, 14 losses, and 1 tie, are looking forward to winning more games and hopefully putting Westminster field hockey on the map.

Senior captain Haley Schmer is very confident in her team, anticipating a season filled with hard work and success. As a team with eleven seniors, spots for underclassmen were scarce but Schmer is thrilled to see how they will add to the team dynamic.

“We have a lot of good girls coming up [freshmen, sophomores, and juniors] that will be assets to our team this year. Being a fairly new program, we have a lot of improving to do, but we are getting there,” said Schmer.

Schmer is a starting midfielder, was named first team all-conference her junior year, and hopes to help her team in any way she can. Along with Schmer, Senior captains Taylor Siebenman and Rebekah Warren have been playing since eighth grade, being the only three members left of the original team. Under this solid team of leadership, the Wildcats’ have a great trio of captains that should lead the team to success.

The Wildcats’ defense is looking very strong this year led by returners Rebekah Warren, senior Ally Drooger, and junior Hannah Sturr along with a few new additions. Seniors Francie Akins and Dani Renaud are new to the varsity team but are excited to play for their last year of high school.

“I have never been apart such a close knit team and I not only have the seniors to thank for that but also the juniors,” said Renaud.

Sophomore Luci Hilboldt and the only freshman on the team, Grace Clement, will also be a critical part of the Wildcats’ defense. Hilboldt and Clement are both new to Westminster, but are having no trouble fitting in and making their mark on the field.

With a good defense to back them up, the Wildcats’ are looking towards forwards Siebenman and junior Morgan Sickels to be some of the main scorers, along with senior Lexi Berra. Berra’s speed and great stick skills will help the team get the ball up the field and into the goal. Midfielders to watch will be Schmer along with junior Sophie Clement in the center, both looking to score and assist whenever they get the opportunity.

Schmer, Siebenman, and Warren came up with a new slogan for the team: “Fear-Less”, they are hungry for many wins this season, and are going to do whatever it is going to take to make that happen, causing all of the opponents they face to want to fear more.

Come support the field hockey team in their first home game of the season next Friday, August 25th!