The Whippany Park Field Hockey team’s new motto is nothing short of a preamble of the 2024 season. With great efforts from the coaches and players alike, valiant strength and courage continues to dominate the games.
Since the start of preseason, the sheer determination of the team has proven to override any ups and downs the players face. Whether it showed through a full week of morning practices from 6:30 to 8:30 am, a program of team bonding with young aspiring players, or through close-winning games bringing the audience on the edge of their seats.
The camaraderie of the Wildcats is a crucial factor to the overall motto as it stands as the backbone of the team spirit. With the organized team bondings and Sister pairings, the girls become something more than a team: a family. Through these close friendships that are forged from the first day of practice to the last day of the season, memories have been made. Memories of the pasta dinners, relay races against each other, and even the scavenger hunts have helped the team feel closer. It is moments like these that these field hockey players are able to look back on, especially after high school.
The seniors of the Whippany Park field hockey team: Kaitlyn Mitrenga, Gia Nitto, Brynne Weber, Victoria Greenberg, Lacy Luliano, and Cecile Chu led the team through thick and thin. Their consistent perseverance constantly inspired the rest of the team and its coaches. Despite losing a total of twelve seniors two years prior to their position, the present seniors fought on with ulterior goals of supporting the team’s evolution in any way necessary. Their efforts of creating a welcoming atmosphere for new coming freshmen, sophomores, and juniors speak volumes about their character both on and off the field.
Coach Callahan and the assistant coaches, Ms. Contompasis and Ms. Ash, harbor unparalleled attitude and effort for the field hockey team. Their constant adapting and modifications to each situation thrown at them is a testament to their devotion for the program and players. The coach’s dedication to the program is apparent through each new strategy and activity. It’s the little things that truly add up, like the personal goal sheet handed out at the start of the season, or the field hockey stickers, also known as “salad”, distributed after each game. The activities and compliments bestowed by the coaches ultimately enhance the drive of the players and expand their love for the sport.
