Every two years, field hockey travels for a large-scale event. This year, they make their way to Chicago for the first time.
Varsity and junior varsity teams leave for a long weekend on Sept. 26. According to junior goalie Brianna Miller, this event can’t be understated.
“We don’t get big opportunities like this very often so it’s exciting to play completely different teams,” Miller said.
Chicago comes with the challenge of facing new teams and a new environment.
Field hockey prepared all summer by pairing practices with improving strength and technique to take on the new challenge.
“We’ve been doing a lot more conditioning this year, like timed miles, and a lot of weight training,” sophomore Campbell Huffman said.
According to senior and team captain Marie Kaman, the added training required some adjustment from the team.
“I think [it] will help us, but it’s been a little bit hard to adjust to,” Kaman said, “especially because it seems like the first half of practice that we have on the turf we’re just getting back onto playing with our sticks again.”
Several players are recovering from injuries, but Kaman hopes it won’t impact their performance in the tournament.
“We have some people recovering from injuries,” Kaman said, “I myself am recovering from an injury, but I try not to let that get in my head too much.”
Their last big event was a camp two years ago at Bellarmine University in Kentucky.
Many current varsity and junior varsity members didn’t go on the Bellarmine trip, and Kaman is excited to foster a new competitive experience for the team.
“Two years ago, we went to Bellarmine [in] Kentucky, and we played seven hours a day for two days. For this, we’re so much more excited,” Kaman said.
Field hockey hopes to win in Chicago over two participating teams. Miller and her teammates are looking forward to another season of wins.
“I’m just really excited for this season!” Miller said.