NIne field hockey players make cut for Futures
GILROY– Seven varsity and two junior varsity field hockey players were selected by the United States Field Hockey Association to participate in the Futures Olympic Development program.
“Every year we get more and more,” varsity co-head coach Adam Gemar said. “It helps out the program immensely, especially the JV kids.”
The two junior varsity selections for Futures went to freshman Linsay Knowg and junior Andrea Chichester.
“It shows that they want to be more than just seasoned field hockey players and, hopefully, they can become collegiate field hockey players. It shows that they are headed in the right direction,” junior varsity head coach Albert Padillo said. “We could have had five more from junior varsity, but they didn’t try out.”
The varsity selections for Futures went to seniors Sam Sicard and Jessica Sandoval; juniors Karlie Sandoval, Elena Ramirez and Meg Perkins; Heather Link and freshman Stephanie Glenn.
“We’re really excited about the two freshmen,” Gemar said.
The Futures stickhandlers get a chance to play with the best field hockey players in the area on a weekly basis for four months on the turf at Stanford University. Student-athletes are graded on a percentage based on experience during the one-day, four-hour tryout. They must demonstrate proper stickhandling, shot accuracy and power, and speed.
“It relies on a lot of speed,” said Gemar, whose varsity squad is 6-1 this season vying for the school’s first field hockey berth into the CCS Playoffs.
The Gilroy High field hockey program has grown each season. There are 18 players on varsity and 28 on junior varsity this season.
