1993 Team Memories
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What are some of your favorite memories?
What was something unexpected you learned or experienced?
Was there ever a hard part, something that really challenged you?
How did winning the state championship impact you?
- Daphne Belden Gordan (Sophomore in 1993) It was always fun to see our lockers and locker room decorated by the dedicated team moms.
- Katherine Boyle (Junior in 1993) The amazing decorations that our parents put on our lockers. We always looked forward to seeing what was in store for us and what clever puns they devised.
I remember my brother (Chris Boyle) taping most of the games for us including the VHS of the State Championship game. I will always remember him cheering for me -his voice, and my dad’s, always sounded loudest to me.
I remember being obsessed with having dump trucks in the parade!
We all went door to door around town to asking for donations so we could purchase our State Championship Jackets-everyone was so kind and generous. - Kara Jagodzinski Gorey (Sophomore) Our parents decorated our lockers before EVERY game with works of encouragement and treats. We always had fresh orange slices and grapes at half time. The community as a whole came together to watch and support us. Team pasta dinners, stand out in my memory, as do bus rides with great music and hair braiding. We were the smallest public high school that played in the only field hockey bracket at the time -Division 1. We were competing against the biggest and best schools in the state!
- Jennifer Shea Lane (Senior) It was always fun to play at Smith College under the lights with what felt like the entire town of Hatfield watching. Team dinners were a lot of fun, especially with taco dip, which I still make today for my teams!
- Kristen Skoglund Walmsley (Freshman) I played as a 9th grader. People often asked if the upper-class payers were unkind and or scary or exclusive. But this team and this school were the exact opposite. I was always included and welcomed. It was very special. There was never a moment that I didn’t feel a complete part of the team and the friendships. If you grow up in Hatfield, you know exactly what I am talking about.
I remember the morning after we won the States my dad, Dennis Skoglund, went to the Daily Hampshire Gazette before the sun was up to get the first edition newspapers with the news of our victory. He then drove house to house delivering them to every single member of the team. My father was the Circulation Director of the Gazette at the time.
We still have a whole Smith Academy 1993 Field Hockey playlist on Spotify that Devon made including most of the songs from our old mix tape. I still listen to it when I run sometimes. - Mindy Vinelli Marchetti (Senior) Everything was a competition at practice. There was trash talk every day at practice. We pushed each other to be better and laughed at each other while doing it. Going to practice was my favorite part of every day.
My dad, Steve Vinelli, would always stand on the sideline nearest the goal I was defending. Even when all the action was down the other end (SA on offense), he was always closest to me.
Starting freshman year, I was in charge of creating the mix tapes we would listen to on the way to the games. It evolved over the years. Even today when one of those songs comes on, it takes me right to that time.
Seeing the dump trucks waiting for us when we got off I-91.
I remember the epic cake fights. (I would kill kids today if they wasted food like that.)
Before each game the starters would huddle at mid-field to get fired up. I won’t admit what we yelled, but we did the same thing before every game. How our parents didn’t hear us yelling this obscene pregame mantra is in inexplicable. - Alissa Wickles Theberge (Senior) Team pasta dinners before big games. Scoring drills against Mindy. Team summer caps at Smith College, Springfield College, and UConn
- Devon Vachula Elliot (Sophomore) Team dinner. A teammate’s family would host it and we would carb load on pasta and garlic bread…and can’t forget the taco dip!! Town residents and our families lined the street and cheered us on with balloons and sign all the way back to SA. Nothing would pump me up more than listening to our favorite songs all put together on one cassette tape.
- Renee Zannini Croak (Senior)
Winning the Western Mass Title was the pinnacle. Even though we went on to win states a year or two later, that victory was particularly special because we had lost many seniors the year before and everyone thought we wouldn't be that good and termed it a "growing year." We all understood what that meant and set out seeking to grow as much as possible. Despite the fact that we were often not favored to win, we believed in the value of pure heart and effort. We understood that any opportunity we had to work harder and hustle faster could help us beat our appointment. We didn't have our sights on winning it all; rather, we took one game at a time, striving for improvement.
At some point, I think we realize that there was not pressure on us to succeed. No one expected much of us; it was our opponents who had to perform. That psychological approach allowed us to focus on our game and not feel the heavy burden of expectation. Being the underdog was a welcome approach at that time. This approach fostered a tremendous team comradery. There were no superstars on the team. We understood we needed unity and valued one another's role on the team.
As the season progressed, we did surprisingly well and started to realize that if we continued to work as hard as possible, we could achieve success, again, not expecting championship victories. Even during playoffs, the feel was, "we're just happy to be here" so whatever we do well, we'll be happy with; however, I think we all secretly hoped and strived for utmost victory. Our effort was unparalleled. As the underdogs we knew we may be under skilled as a whole but we would not be out hustled. That we could control...and it worked!
Somehow our determination saw us through to victory. It was a huge triumph because on paper, we never should have won but somehow our minds were able to ignore the noise, the pressure, the expectation and just play a game we loved as a unified team. Winning the Western Mass title that year gave us the confidence that we could overcome any foe with our sheer determination if we worked hard and worked together.
Another fav memory: cake! After some big victories our wonderful parents organized celebrations with food and dessert. AT some point, cake was served and we not only enjoyed eating it but reveled in smooshing it into each other's faces! Alyssa and I in particular had a little rivalry as to who could get who first with the cake. I think we all ended the night with frosting and smiles on our faces! - Kelly Brown (Junior)
My favorite memory was seeing how every person on the field was a necessary part of the whole. When we were on, which was often, we moved like a fine-tuned machine, and it was calm, swift, and beautiful. Loved the team dinners with taco dip and huge red grapes, the pre-game rituals, the bus sound tracks, and braiding everyone’s hair. Our families and the community as a whole took care of us and put up with us. They fed us, housed us, followed us all around the state and gave us amazing parades with dump trucks and tractors. - Natalie Schlegel (Senior and Manager)
The feeling of the field hockey sticks banging in unison on the school bus floor to the beat of We’re Not Gonna Take It as we approached the opponent’s field. On the home game days, while the players run to the field behind the elementary school, Sarah and I would ride in the Coach Webb’s car rocking out to Mariah Carey and having conversations about what was going on with us. We weren’t field hockey players, but Ms. Webb was a coach to us too, and she made us part of the team. - Sherry Webb (Coach) My name now if different? Same old MS WEBB. My position on the team? Lowest on the Totem ‘Coach” I remember the smack they would talk to each other! There was game at Palmer where we had a “team talk” after. That was really memorable. There was incredible family support. We ALWAYS had more fans even at away games. I wonder if they know how much I admire and respect them still.
What was something unexpected you learned or experienced?
- Daphne Belden Gordan (Sophomore) Nothing is impossible for a group of small town girls!
- Alissa Wickles Theberge (Senior) It was so easy to play with every member of this team because we were totally in synch. Having played together for so long, we were able just to go and execute at our positions/do our jobs and we all knew and trusted every teammate to deliver.
I appreciate how invested and engaged our fans of all ages were and how excited they were when we won. The whole town came to home games, travelled to away games, decorated their homes with signs that we would see on the bus ride out of town to games, participated in parades, followed our stats and would cheer for the team and individual accomplishments. Many had no clue what the rules of the sport were, and no one cared. That type of support is unique. - Devon Vachula Elliott (Sophomore) It has taught me to fight through adversity, and never to quit.
Was there ever a hard part, something that really challenged you?
- Daphne Belden Gordan (Sophomore) Running the block in the rain. Miss Webb hardly canceled practice.
- Katherine Boyle (Junior)Working to overcome my anxiety before every game. I eventually learned to turn this anxiety into positive/good adrenaline for games and life in general.
- Kara Jagodzinski Gorey (Sophomore) The field we played on is now the site of the current elementary school. Our school Breor was demolished. There really isn’t a place to go back to.
- Mindy Vinelli Marchetti (Senior) I had quite a bit of anxiety about moving onto playing in college (Univ. of Vermont). I was being recruited by several schools and I couldn't imagine leaving our small town and living somewhere else for four years.
- Alissa Wickles Theberge Conditioning, speed laps, timed runs and preseason.
- Kelley Brown (Junior) We pushed and pushed each other to refine our skills and connect our passes, and hustle. We were playing against 16-, 17- and 18-year olds in the state and we were dedicated to being more precise, better conditioned and tougher than anyone. I can also remember winning that night in November, being so excited and yet, thinking to myself, I just want to go to bed. Turned out I had mono—that was also hard, but thankfully, the season was over!
- Sherry Webb (Coach) Having the season end. Even though on a victory. I knew that kind of happiness is rare but time with this group was a learning experience every day.
How did winning the state championship impact you?
- Sherry Webb (Coach) Made me more appreciative of their hard work and commitment.
- Katherine Boyle (Junior) It was this season that solidified my decision to play in college (UConn). A decision that I will never regret.
- Jennifer Shea Lane (Senior Being part of such a strong high school program helped give me the confidence to play in college (Amherst College) and become a four-year starter.
- Mindy Vinelli Marchetti (Senior) Growing up in Hatfield and being a member of the field hockey team for 6 years has shaped who I am today. We worked our asses off. We learned to be teammates. We learned to be disciplined. We developed incredible confidence but always with humility. It was always a team effort and that has been my mantra for life. I mention it in every job interview and every mentor session that I lead. Work as a team, build trust, be dependable, do your share.
- Kelley Brown (Junior) I learned a great deal from my work with the 1993 team that I continue to share with my students—the lessons in true collaboration, trust, and hard work. Learning to take criticism and learning how to fail and get back up are universal and, upon reflection, I realize they guide the everyday work I do with my students. I also learned about the power of a program with tradition, pride, and high expectations. I certainly didn’t expect my high school field hockey experience to still be affecting me today. I think for many of us, winning helped us to get into better colleges, which was a big deal.
- Natalie Schlegel (Senior and Manager) One of her (Coach Webb) directions (to her players) has stuck with me all this time: ANTICIPATE! Years later, I can still hear her voice call it out while her players read their opponents. I’ve taken that lesson to so many areas of life.