Thirty-eight players.
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Hatfield has a sports history, and that history centers on the students of Smith Academy. The town, the families, and the school produce some impressive athletes.
This site honors two stand-out teams: the girls' field hockey teams of 1993 and 2000, both of which went to the state championships. |
The Backstory
Starting in 1985, the girls on the Smith Academy Falcons field hockey teams won the Western MA league title every year. The culture of excellence was mighty. This built a strong basis for some stellar teams.
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Former players talk about the ways the teams cultivated camaraderie and cooperation between the girls, with more senior players stepping up to help make sure the new players got up to speed.
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What set the 1993 and 2000 teams apart? Each year had a perfect record. 22 games, 22 wins, including the state championships. These teams were simply unbeatable. The support of the families, the coaches, and the community was a major part in this, but most of all, it was the players would settle for nothing less than the win.
The Teams
Video of the 1993 game shared by player Devon Vachula Elliott!
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NOTE! The highlight reel is hosted on Everpresent, and you will see a small image. Click the image, and it will got to full-size, with a "play" button in the middle of the screen.
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Video of the 200o team shared by field hockey parents Paul and Eileen Dostal
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The Supporters
Coach Sherry Webb started at Smith Academy in 1975, working with hundreds of students over her career. A staunch believer in the power of the team, Coach Webb inspires her players to work together towards excellence, on and off the field. Listen below to her memories of these two teams.
Sherry Webb holds the 1998 trophy, with Kelly Dostal (2000 team) and Paul Dostal |
The teams drew dedicated fans, from friends and family to bus drivers and sportswriters. John Pease sometimes drove the bus for the teams. He recalls that even people from other towns were drawn to the enthusiasm of the players: "They were just fun teams to watch play; they really put on a great show."
At right, Walter Staaz, a bus driver who loved the Hatfield teams. He would stay and watch the games and cheer them on, not just wait for the teams to finish. |
Coach Judy Strong began her connection to Smith Academy Field Hockey as a student and star player, going on to play for UMass. In 1984, she won a bronze medal with the US Olympic Team. Now varsity coach, the team she guides plays on the Judy Strong Field. Her legacy inspired many many girls to pick up a stick, and in 2021, she returned to coach new players.
Judy Strong cuts the ribbon on the new Smith Academy hockey field,
while her team looks on. Oct 10, 2021 Daily Hampshire Gazette photo |