Field hockey's future
Looking around the hockey field at Severna Park yesterday, what struck me first was the more than 500 fans who jammed the few bleachers and short hill along one side of the field. On second look, I saw that probably half of them were young girls -- pre-high school age.
I soon discovered that it was Green Hornets Day at the game. It probably drew most of the 230 girls from grades three through eight who participate in the Green Hornets program, run by the Greater Severna Park Athletic Association, Inc.
The Green Hornets left happy after watching No. 1 Severna Park defeat No. 3 Broadneck, 3-1.
Seeing so many young field hockey players in attendance certainly made the coaches happy.
"It’s the future of the program," said Severna Park coach Lil Shelton.
But it also makes an impression on the high school players.
Falcons senior Lelan Bailey remembers having big dreams when she played for the Green Hornets.
"It’s great to see them all," said Bailey, "because I was there once and I know when you’re a Green Hornet, your dream is to play for the high school team. It’s just great support seeing them and they really did cheer us on. I hope that one day they will get to experience playing for the high school."
Broadneck senior Katie Matteo played for a similar program in her area, Broadneck Area Youth Sports (BAYS). Girls from that field hockey program were in attendance too, proudly wearing their gold uniform shirts.
"It’s really, really fun for me to see them," said Matteo. " I do camps and stuff like coaching and I always see them all the time. They come to almost every game. I hear them on the sideline and it gets me really pumped up, because it’s fun to know they’re cheering for me."
