The Willow Glen Resident

Sticking to It: Willow Glen junior Alexis Giuancione works closely with eighth-grader Stephanie Rovia in the summer field-hockey camp, while junior Kelly Arnone (left) goes over hockey tips with ninth-grader Claire Hodgins. Arwen Lange (second from left) is also pictured.

Summer field hockey at WG

Camp prepares young players for fall season

By Dick Sparrer

Field hockey is not a sport familiar to most girls entering high school.

There are no field hockey teams in the local junior high schools, and there is no youth field hockey program in the area. So when girls enter high school, the field hockey experience can be somewhat foreign to them.

Not so, though, for the girls in Willow Glen, thanks to Rams head coach Peggy Booth and her special Willow Glen Summer Field Hockey camp.

Booth hosted a field hockey camp for girls early this summer to give incoming high school players a chance to experience the sport before the school's league season begins this fall.

What's more, "the camp was a huge success," Booth said. "All the girls seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves."

In all, 25 girls participated in the summer camp that was directed by Booth and staffed by many of the players on her Willow Glen varsity and junior varsity teams. The campers ranged from fifth through ninth graders.

The operation of the camp was Booth's first official act since taking over the Willow Glen varsity from longtime Rams coach Jan Axline, who retired after last season. Booth coached the WG junior varsity team last fall.

Booth will now prepare for the field hockey jamboree hosted each fall by Willow Glen. The event is named for the recently retired Rams coach.

The 19th annual Jan Axline Hockey Jamboree is set for Sept. 11-12 at Willow Glen. The event will include high school varsity teams only.

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