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January 2021 Newsletter Ohio State Field Hockey

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from the Ohio State Field Hockey program. We hope you're staying safe and healthy during this time and are looking forward to the start of 2021. The new year will bring many new opportunities and for us, that includes competing during the spring. We're so thankful for Ohio State Administration as well as the Big 10 for helping us through these unprecedented times. Most of all we're grateful to our student-athletes, who have done all that we've asked of them and more.

2020 FALL RECAP

The fall of 2020 was a bit different for Ohio State field hockey as we learned to navigate the global health crisis in our athletic space. After the season was moved to the spring, we had to pivot to an off-season training mindset! It is amazing to see what this motivated group of student-athletes was able to accomplish on the field, in the classroom, and in many zoom meetings/video sessions! Below are some personal insights from the players on the fall season:

“This past semester had its challenges, but we made the most of it. It was my first semester in the Sports Management Master's program, and although I didn't have any in-person classes, I still feel like I got to know my professors and classmates pretty well. Online school had some perks too, like being in the comfort of my house all day and saving money not buying coffee on campus. On good weather days, my roommates and I would set up our computers on the balcony and enjoy class outside. In my free time, I fell victim to many binge-worthy Netflix shows, but also had fun cooking and trying out new recipes. Although this past semester was filled with changes and uncertainty with training, we did a good job as a team of just rolling with the punches. I always felt very safe at our facilities because of the guidelines Ohio State Athletics had in place, so it was great having the opportunity to train. Any chance we got to practice, we were just excited to be there and work on something to get better. No matter the setbacks we faced, we'd all find a way to laugh it off and move forward.” –Sammy Stone
“This semester has been a roller coaster to say the least! This year was our first full semester of virtual learning which went better than I thought it would! I ended up enjoying it more than I expected because of how much flexibility we had. Thankfully, we were also able to practice. We had to start and stop a lot, but all human interactions were highly valued! We had morning practices this semester, so I got to see all my amazing teammates to start the day. I'm thankful that I can call this group of girls my best friends. They have been a great support system through this crazy time, but once spring games start up, it will all be worth it! I am super excited for this spring season to start. As a team, we have improved our fitness a lot and had a chance to hone in on our stick skills. I can't wait to for everyone to come back and get our SPRING season going!” –Sarah Charley
“Although COVID completely changed college life, there were many things I got to experience that I’m not sure I would have during a normal year. I spent a lot of time outdoors whether it was playing spike ball or attempting to skate with my newly purchased roller blades. I also had lots of individual time with the coaches that allowed me to focus on my stick skills and strengthen my field hockey foundation. Online school was definitely a challenge but it also had its perks. I was able to sit outside for classes, stay comfy in my pajamas, and I had full access to the fridge! One of my classes, American Sign Language, was especially interesting. With this language, visual access is extremely important so being limited to zoom sometimes posed a challenge. I also had the opportunity to take a CPR and First Aid course through the university and get certified.” –Emma Goldean
“Though my first semester at Ohio State was far from what I expected, I wouldn’t change anything about it. This semester served as a great learning opportunity to persevere through the most challenging times. And while it was filled with disappointment after disappointment, Ohio State field hockey always found a way to push through together. When our team was able to continue practicing, it was a great opportunity for me to get better and grow closer to the greatest coaching staff in the country. I felt that this fall was always about finding joy in the little things. As a team we always talked about staying positive no matter what happened. Coming in to this as a freshman, was definitely not easy for my classmates and I, but the upperclassmen were amazing at making us feel welcome and including us whenever possible in small gatherings of course! Virtual learning was also a challenge especially while transitioning from high school to college, but all of my professors and the SASSO team provided support I could have never imagined. The coaches are very good at making sure we know that school comes first and it always will. I am very excited to get back on campus in the spring and remain optimistic for a spring season! Go Bucks!” –Sarah Richards

#BetterEverday Recognition

At the beginning of September, we received a letter from alumnae, Traci Curtis, in response to a hashtag we used in one of our training posts, #Bettereveryday. Traci was kind enough to share with our team the meaning of that hashtag to her family. Traci also included two #Bettereveryday shirts which has inspired a new tradition in our field hockey family. Each week we recognized two players that showed the spirit and positive attitude to be better everyday. Those players had the privilege to wear those shirts the following week before passing them off to the next winners (after a cycle through the laundry, of course!). Pictured are Emma Goldean and Nikki Trzaska taking the shirts for a test drive!

#BETTEREVERDAY FALL TRAINING WINNERS

September

Jess Hourihane and Delaney Lawler
Emma Goldean and Sarah Charley
Tess Maloney and Aaliyah Hernandez

October

Leanne Bough and Sammy Stone
Sarah Charley and Julianna Sweeney
Nikki Trzaska and Delaney Lawler
Emma Goldean and Jess Hourihane 

New Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson Visits with the Buckeyes

In August, new Ohio State president Kristina M. Johnson stopped by practice to visit with the Buckeyes and offer her words of encouragement. Johnson has a special connection to the sport of field hockey: she played at Stanford and has remained connected to the sport since her playing days ended.

Not only did Johnson speak with the team, she also got into the action, too, by taking a penalty stroke against goalkeeper Abby Danson.

📸 VIEWES FROM THE FALL 📸

The team developing some core strength with strength and conditioning coach Kevin Enchelmeyer.
The team prepares to review some team defense and pressing principles over Zoom.
Coaches Jarred and Homero bring the balls out on the field for our morning training session. Luckily the fog lifted before the team showed up!
The team waits for the sun to get a little higher in the sky to melt the ice on the field one morning.
Freshman goalkeeper Abby Danson putting in some individual skill work.
A socially distant huddle to recap the conditioning session for the day.
The Buckeyes put in work to improve fitness this fall!
The team grows their tactical knowledge on a video session on Zoom.

Halloween practice this year was put on by two juniors, Julia Dickinson and Katie Pyle. They were very creative in their planning. The practice consisted of the following games: Vampires vs. Wolves Warm-Up, Steal the Pumpkin, Rescue Princess Julia, Spooky Strokes and Run for Your Life Relays. Each class (including the coaching staff) also came in themed costumes. Check out the photos below and decide who your favorite was!

Freshman Zoe Snook, Megan McKenna, Abby Danson and Sarah Richards came as KISS.
Juniors Jess Hourihane, Kennedy Fertitta, Aaliyah Hernandez, Julia Dickinson, Emma Goldean, Tess Maloney and Katie Pyle came as Zoom interviews!
Seniors Mara Hunter, Julianna Sweeney, Nikki Trzaska and Sammy Stone came as a veterinarian and her animals.
Coaches Kate Lipton, Jarred Martin, Scott Sherban, Homero Pardi and athletic trainer Helen Bulford came as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Senior dalmatian Sammy Stone looks for a pass during steal the pumpkin.
Freshman Zoe Snook leads ahead to try to steal the pumpkin.
The team tries to Rescue Princess Julia by scoring enough goals!

Welcome to the Buckeye Family

Ohio State field hockey welcomes six new players to the program for the 2021-2022 season.

“This is one of the best recruiting classes in the country with athleticism, skill, leadership, and high level of hockey experience. Individually they bring in some impressive resumes with USA Jr. National Team members, high school All-Americans, state champions, multi-sport athletes, and great families all joining this program.” – Jarred Martin

Hallie Brost / Richmond, Va. / Collegiate School

Competed with the US U17 national team in 2018 ... Was a three-time first-team All-State selection (2017, 2018, 2019) ... Also earned all-conference and all-metro honors those three years ... Helped her team to the state and conference finals as a sophomore in 2018 ... At the club level, qualified for national’s in 2017, 2018 and 2019 ... Finished fifth at nationals in back to back years (2018 and 2019) ... Also played lacrosse at the Collegiate School ... Has a brother who plays lacrosse at Christopher Newport.

Cameryn Forgash / Swoyersville, Pa. / Wyoming Valley High School

A four-year varsity letterwinner at Wyoming Valley High School ... First-team all-state and second team all-region selection ... Named the Athlete of the Week by the Citizens Voice ... A first-team field hockey all-star by the Citizens Voice and Times Leader ... Member of the PIAA “AA” state championship team in 2019 ... Also won three straight Wyoming Valley Conference District AA championships ... Played club field hockey for the WC Eagles ... National Indoor Tournament U-19 Pool “C” Champions and Disney Showcase U-19 gold medalists ... Selected to the U19 Stars and Stripes Elite Game ... Also ran track and field at Wyoming Valley High School ... Is a member of the National Honors Society and the French/Spanish National Honor Society ... Has a brother who runs track and cross country at King’s College

Hanna Killeen / Hudson, Ohio / Hudson High School

Four year varsity letterwinner at Hudson High School ... First team All-Ohio as a junior in 2019 ... Helped Hudson to a state runner-up finish in 2018 ... Named to the “Player to Watch” list for the West/Midwest Region in 2020 ... In addition to a state runner-up finish, Hudson also won back to back NEOFH league championships and was a district runner-up in 2017 and 2019 ... Member of the National Indoor Tournament champions in 2020 ... Also played lacrosse at Hudson High School ... Member of the National Honors Society, Academic All-Ohio and a three-time Hudson Scholar-Athlete ... Is the editor of Hudson High School’s newspaper and is a member of seven other club, including student government.

Claudia Thomas / Louisville, Ky. / Christian Academy of Louisville

Member of the O-16 Rose National Team in 2020, the U17 U.S. National Team in 2019 and the U16 Junior Olympics ... Helped Christian Academy of Louisville at a state championship in 2017, a runner-up finish in 2019 and Apple Tournament titles in 2017 and 2020 ... First team All-State in 2018 ... Max Field Hockey top-10 ranked player in 2018 and 2019 ... Two-time member of the Midwest All-Region team ... Played at the National Club Championships five years ... Won multiple pool championships at the National Hockey Festival ... Kentucky High School Athletic Association Academic All-State ... Has a sister, Claire, who plays field hockey at Temple

Olivia Zettervall / Virginia Beach, Va. / Cape Henry Collegiate

Named to Max Field Hockey’s Top 40 Players to Watch list for 2020 ... Two-time team captain ... Helped Cape Henry Collegiate win back to back conference titles and three straight DII state championships ... Second team All-Mid Atlantic Region in 2019 ... National Field Hockey Coaches Association South All Region Team (2019) ... First team all-state and all-conference in both 2018 and 2019 ... Has scored 18 goals and added 28 assists in her three varsity seasons ... 2019 MAX Field Hockey Mid-Atlantic Region Player to Watch ... Also plays soccer, basketball and run indoor track at Cape Henry Collegiate ... Is an all-state goalie in soccer ... Member of the National Honor Society.

Jenna Zunic / Johnson City, N.Y. / Maine-Endwell High School

Five-year varsity letterwinner at Maine-Endwell High School ... Back and back New York State Class A state championship (2018, 2019) and 2017 Class A state championship finalist ... New York State Championship All-Tournament Team selection in 2018 and 2019 ... All-State and All-Region in 2019 ... Selected as a team captain for 2020 ... Three-time AAU Junior Olympic participant and bronze medal winner ... NFC U14 /U16 Star and Stripes Elite Selection ... Max Field Hockey Class of 2021 Top 50 player in the nation ... 2019 New York State Section IV Second Team All-Star in lacrosse ... National Honor Society member and a five-time New York State Scholar Athlete for both field hockey and lacrosse ... Is a triplet and her two other sisters also plan to play field hockey in college

THE COMPLETE STUDENT-ATHLETE EXPERIENCE

CONGRATULATIONS to senior Mara Hunter for graduating this December with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Management, Leadership, and Policy from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs! We are so proud of you! Next up ... Capital University Law School!

IN THE CLASSROOM...

Congratulations to goalie Rachel Levan, a psychology major, for being selected by SASSO as one of its student-athletes on the month for December.

Fifteen members of the Ohio State field hockey team were named Academic All-Big Ten earlier this month. In order to be eligible, student-athletes must have a 3.0 grade-point average or better and be in at least their second year on campus.

Ohio State’s 15 honorees represents 83 percent of those who were eligible for the award.

Three members of the team – seniors Nikki Trzaska and Julianna Sweeney along with graduate student Sammy Stone – earned Academic All-Big Ten distinction for the third time. First-time members of the list are Mackenzie Allessie, Leanne Bough and Sarah Charley.

2020 Field Hockey Academic All-Big Ten Honorees

Mackenzie Allessie – So. – Psychology – Mount Joy, Pa.

Leanne Bough – So. – Accounting – Whitney Point, N.Y.

Sarah Charley – So. – Health Professions Exploration – Worthington, Ohio

Julia Dickinson – Jr. – Communications – Collegeville, Pa.

Kennedy Fertitta – Jr. – Finance – Charlotte, N.C.

Emma Goldean – Jr. Biology – Charlotte, N.C.

Aaliyah Hernandez – Jr. – Biology – Virginia Beach, Va.

Jessica Hourihane – Jr. – Marketing – Winnetka, Ill.

Mara Hunter – Sr. – Public Management, Leadership & Policy – Powell, Ohio

Tess Maloney – Jr. – Finance – Rumson, N.J.

Katie Pyle – Jr. – Human Development & Family Science – Lititz, Pa.

Sina Schwinn – Jr. – Psychology – Rheinbach, Germany

Sammy Stone – Gr. – Sport Management – Herndon, Va.

Julianna Sweeney – Sr. – Animal Science – Stroudsburg, Pa.

Nikki Trzaska – Sr. – Marketing – Yardley, Pa.

OFF THE FIELD...

“SHEROS is an organization for black female student-athletes at Ohio State that holds meetings and events to either bring awareness on certain issues or just to have a social hour. My first ever meeting with SHEROS was a pre-finals holiday social hour where I got to meet other black female student-athletes on various other teams, which was a great way to just talk and feel connected. However, I’ve also been to a joint meeting between RAS (the black male student-athlete association) and SHEROS where we discussed the topic of sexual violence and how do we address it when it comes from accused celebrities like R. Kelly. SHEROS often holds meetings like this with heavy hitting topics that foster great conversations but also provides a safe space for its members to hang out and connect with each other which we wouldn’t normally get to do because some of our sports are so separated. They’ve also done a lot to reach out to other parts of the community either within Ohio State, by promoting or working with other student organizations, or outside of it like when they held a back to school bash where they handed out backpacks and school supplies.” -Aaliyah Hernandez

“I am thrilled to be joining the Accenture team this Spring in their Student Leadership Program. Accenture is a technology consulting firm with offices all over the world. I was 1 of 30 Student Athletes selected into their Student-Athlete specific program. The program is virtual this year and runs from January through May. It entails being assigned multiple mentors to work with and have monthly meetings with, attending video conferences, learning more about the business consulting world, and attending a 3 day long conference with the other leadership groups. At the end of the program I will have the chance to interview for a full-time position upon graduation. I am very excited to grow my business skills and dive deeper into consulting. I am so grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to meet the other student athletes in this program.” – Jess Hourihane

IN THE COMMUNITY...

This fall we were fortunate to be able to spend an afternoon with the Life Care Alliance assisting with their Meals on Wheels program. Our group helped deliver many hot meals around the greater Columbus area. We also broke down the meal bags that were coming back to the facility and helped prepare them for the following day.

Juniors Julia Dickinson and Katie Pyle loading their car before making a delivery loop!
Junior Emma Goldean and freshman Abby Danson getting ready to deliver some meals.
Freshman Zoe Snook delivering a meal!
The group listening to the introductions and instructions of their tasks for the day.
Head coach Jarred Martin breaks down some meal bags that came back to the facility.
Junior Aaliyah Hernandez unpacks a cooler to prepare it for the next delivery.
Sophomore Leanne Bough prepares a trash bag to line the coolers. Great technique, Leanne!
Sophomore Delaney Lawler moving and stacking coolers coming into the facility.
A group of Buckeyes ready to give back to their community that gives so much to them!

Buckeye Nation

While the pandemic has changed our lives in so many ways, one thing it hasn't changed is our desire to connect with so many of our wonderful alums. We've keep in touch with you via email, text and Zoom and it's been so rewarding to learn more about what you're all up to these days. We're looking forward to seeing you again in person very soon!

Congratulations to Kelsey Nolan (’18) for completing the York Marathon in Pennsylvania! Kelsey ran the marathon at an impressive 8 min per mile pace and was all smiles for the 26.2 mile race.

Buckeyes In Action: Carolina Vergrosen

Hi Buckeye Family, my name is Carolina Vergroesen I was #28 on the Ohio State field hockey team from 2015-2018. During my time at Ohio State, I earned an undergraduate degree in international business and a master’s in Applied Economics. After graduating I went back to my home country of the Netherlands to continue my educational journey at the Rotterdam School of Management for a master’s in International Management. As part of my master’s I did an exchange in Denmark where I played field hockey and even managed to become Danish national Champion with my team (Disclaimer: the league is very small and the Copenhagen team benefits from various international players who live in the capital for work or study).

In the second year of my masters back in the Netherlands I did not play any field hockey since I was combining an internship with writing my thesis. Although I really missed the sport my dedication did help me to land my first job in the midst of a pandemic! I started as an Active Ownership Analyst at a Dutch Asset Manager, Robeco, in May. Once I had found my job I immediately started looking for a way to get back on the field. I did try-outs at various teams in Amsterdam in May and June. It was very strange to do tryouts again for the first time in many years and extra strange with the Covid-19 measures in place which restricted game play so we only did passing and shooting drills. Eventually, I managed to earn a spot in the first women’s team at VVV. The team comes out in the fourth highest league nationally (there are seven leagues in the Netherlands). Similar to OSU the team is made up of women of different ages, however the spread is a bit wider as our youngest player is 18 years old and our oldest is 30. Although we got quite a lot of cool gear from the club nothing beats OSU’s merch so I am still rocking my buckeye stick and puffy also makes an appearance quite frequently.

Luckily, near the end of the summer Covid-19 measures were loosened and we were able to start game play again. We were also able to do some team bonding activities such as wine tasting and bowling. I really enjoy being part of a competitive team again. Unfortunately the competition was brought to a halt in mid-October. We were still able to practice at first but since the introduction of new and stricter measures we are only allowed to be outside in pairs which makes field hockey practice impractical so for now we are just running in pairs. I am hopeful that we will be able to play some form of competition again in the spring.

Although it has been a crazy challenging year with Corona I am grateful I managed to find a new team and that I am able to practice competitive field hockey again, even if only in limited form. I do look forward to get back on the field and be reunited with my teammates again! To all buckeyes everywhere, this has been a very unique year and I hope that despite all the challenges you too have been able to take something good from 2020 that you can bring along into the new year.

Happy new year and Go Bucks!

Carolina

Buckeyes Celebrate 2010 NCAA Final Four Team

Ten years ago, the Ohio State Buckeyes advanced to their first-ever NCAA Final Four. Ten years later, we celebrated that team not only for what they accomplished that season, but also for what they've done since then.

The 2010 Buckeyes were 18-5 overall, 5-1 in the Big Ten and tied for the regular season conference title. Their NCAA Tournament run began with a 2-1 overtime win vs. Albany and then culminated with a 3-2 overtime win over Syracuse in State College, Pa. to punch a ticket to the Final Four. All-Americans on that team were Aisling Coyle (first team) and Berta Queralt (third team). Head coach Anne Wilkinson was the NFHCA West Region Coach of the Year while Coyle was the Player of the Year.

We've enjoyed honoring that team throughout the fall and hope to have them all back together on campus in the very neat future. Recently, on the Final Four anniversary weekend, we held a special Zoom celebration with the squad. We reconnected, reminisced and shared stories about that season. We also talked with new Ohio State president Kristina Johnson, who was a field hockey player during her college days at Stanford. We also heard a message from Director of Athletics Gene Smith and watched an old highlight video made for that season.

$50 for 50 Years

This spring, Ohio State will be celebrating its 50th season of varsity field hockey. To commemorate that, we ask that you consider joining our fundraising campaign and give $50 to support our student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence. Every gift helps, and we truly appreciate all that you give of your time, talent and treasure.

360 With Ohio State Athletics Podcast

Head coach Jarred Martin joined host Matt Andrews of the 360 with Ohio State Athletics podcast to update listeners on the program and also his journey in coaching. Take a listen to it by clicking on the link below: