In This Edition:
- Greetings from Deb and Darren
- Winter Recap: Connecticut, HTC Youth, WMass, West Coast
- Looking Back...and What's in Store!
- Alumnae Spotlight
- Coach Spotlight
- Athlete Spotlight
- Hear The Cheers
- We're So Proud! A Look at Our College Commitments
- HTC Gives Back!
- FAQ's
- Let's Hear From You!
Cheers to our HTC Family!
Welcome to our Newsletter Series. We are planning on sending out this newsletter every quarter to celebrate everything HTC! So please feel free to suggest ideas, spotlights, and anything else you would like to see in the newsletter. We are here for you all so we would love to hear your ideas!
We just finished with our Winter Season, and what a season it has been! We have had a ton of fun, our coaches and players have worked extremely hard, and we have succeeded on and off the court/field. You will see all the highlights below in the newsletter, and we are extremely proud of our accomplishments! Whether it was a new player to the sport in one of our clinics, a successful tournament for our Academy players, an Indoor team celebrating a win with medals around their necks, or a successful first charity event, we have had quite a winter season!!
We want to thank all our players, parents and coaches for all their positive energy, hard work, and support this season. We love CHEERING for you all!
Our Spring Programs are here- we look forward to seeing you on the field soon! We will have our Club Program, Youth Clinics, Tournaments, our Academy Program, and our High Performance Regional Club Championship Teams. We have a lot to look forward to and we are excited to continue with all the super progress all of you have made this winter! Let’s keep CHEERING each other on and have a successful Spring Season.
As always, we appreciate all of your support and are so proud of our HTC family.
Cheers!
Deb and Darren
A Reflection of Winter 2022-2023: HTC Connecticut
Winter 2022-2023 was probably one of our most successful yet, with our club, Academy, and clinic programs! We had sites at Tolland, North Branford, New Milford, Montville, Glastonbury, and Madison. A huge WELL DONE! to all of our athletes for tackling new challenges this winter, learning new skills, and for working so hard!
Hardcourt Tournaments
HTC hosted 3 hardcourt tournaments this winter up at our Tolland location! Each were well attended by many teams from all over the northeast!
MLK Day Tournament
HTC hosted the annual MLK Day Tournament on Jan. 16th, 2023. We had a total of 8 HTC teams participate as well as other clubs, including Hartford Havoc, Competitive Edge, and Westwicktown field hockey.
Winter Escape
Our Winter Escape travels were successful in many ways, with lots of learning and development!
NIQs and NITs
HTC as a whole had 3 teams qualify for the National Indoor Tournament (NIT). This includes our Bearcats U16 (coached by Darren Smallhorn and Lauren Zimmerman), Bearcats U19 (coached by Darren Smallhorn, Lauren Zimmerman, and Cara Clarke), and our WMass U19 Wildthings (coached by Anika Goodhue).
We're also so beyond proud of our HTC U14 Great Danes for winning NITs this past February! They went undefeated in both pool play and crossovers, and brought home some hardware!
A Reflection of Winter 2022-2023: HTC Youth
HTC partnered with SO FIELD HOCKEY and Connecticut College Field Hockey to bring the sport to local New London children! Two schools traveled to the athletic center at Connecticut College to participate in one hour of fun activities and learn some field hockey!
Our youth clinics around the state all had an awesome turnout this winter- between our Montville, Tolland, North Branford, and Madison sites, we're so proud of everyone and all the hard work they put into learning the sport!
A Reflection of Winter 2022-2023: HTC WMass
It has been so exciting to see what only the second year of WMass Indoor has brought us. From only one travel team a year ago to now having three, it has been a blast to experience the variety of showcases, qualifying events, and national tournaments with this amazing group of athletes and their families. What we are most proud of at HTC WMass Indoor is the camaraderie that exists between all the age groups and the learning that happens with and between one another. Not only have our athletes grown individually and within team-centered tactics and motivation, but they have helped our coaches grow and learn along the way. We also capped off our indoor season on March 12 with a Parents-Get-To-Play day and it was awesome to bring everyone together for a final hurrah.
A Reflection of Winter 2022-2023: HTC West Coast
HTC CA reflects on an amazing Winter 2022-2023 season. Our CA site began in San Diego in Winter 2018 and we are so proud of what we have built and continue to strive for across all our programs with our coaches, athletes and families.
This past winter we saw so much growth within all of our training programs. Our Club U14/U16 and U19 athletes participated in the 4Goals Challenge Tournament, scrimmages in Moorpark on the astro, and capped off their Winter season with the Cal Berkeley 6v6 Tournament.
Our High Performance athletes also participated in several events and grew their individual and team technical and tactical skills throughout this season. Some of the events that our HP athletes were part of were the Winter Escape Showcase, UC Davis 11v11 Tournament and Cal Berkeley 6v6.
We also held our first Middle School League with new and experienced players across grades 6-8. We are looking forward to growing and improving this for next year!
We can’t wait for this upcoming Spring season!
Looking Ahead...
East Coast
Training is now underway for Regional Club Championships (RCCs). Click the link below to learn more info about the tournament!
Spring club, clinic, and tournament information is now up on htcfieldhockey.com. We look forward to seeing you on the pitch soon! Make sure to put May 7th, May 27th, and May 28th tournaments on your calendars now! Stay tuned for summer events and information.
West Coast
Regional Club Championships (RCCs) will soon be underway! Please reach out to Mika (mblack@htcfieldhockey.com) for more information.
Information about Cal Cup is now up on htcfieldhockey.com- make sure to check it out!
We are attending the Stanford tournament on April 16th, 2023- please reach out to Mika at mblack@htcfieldhockey.com for more information.
Spring training is now underway at HTC CA- click the button below to check out our website! Stay tuned for summer events and information.
Alumna Spotlight:
Sophie Schreck
East Coast
- Played at University of New Haven and Stonehill College
- Joined HTC in 2015
- Named one of the first NFHCA DII All-Americans for University of New Haven
When did you first start playing field hockey? I started first playing field hockey in 7th grade and was told to start playing HTC by my high school coach (Coach Leckey) because she saw my potential and helped me grow my game. (I started playing HTC officially my sophomore year of high school).
What's your favorite HTC moment? My favorite HTC moment would have to be 4Goals Cup tournaments (throwback to Brown 4Goals when my team won our first championship cup). 4Goals weekends are always fun, competitive, and full of laughs.
What's your favorite college moment/memory? My favorite college moment/memory would have to be when my team (University of New Haven) beat Assumption. We had played them earlier in the season and to finally beat them (first time in the program’s history) was such a great accomplishment for our program. We played a hard fought game and to come back in the 3rd and then finish the win off in overtime was exhilarating.
Do you have any advice for current HTC athletes? The two best things you can bring to any program is a willingness to learn and showing up in shape. You won't have time to play catch up in conditioning and a willingness to learn will help you soak up the knowledge the coaches are sharing with you.
With graduation on the horizon, what did you study at University of New Haven and what are your post grad plans? I am getting my masters in Environmental Engineering, working part time, and playing rugby for the city of New Haven. After graduating from the masters program, I will be working for Sikorsky.
Alumna Spotlight:
Hayden Ma
West Coast
- Currently plays at UCal Davis
- Joined HTC in 2018
- Earned a bronze medal in NEXUS Championships
When did you first start playing? I first started playing hockey when I was in middle school, but didn’t start club until my freshman year of high school.
What is your major at UCal Davis? Currently, I’m a first year Cognitive Science major. This year I’m taking a mix of classes including general education classes like Sports & Politics or Greek Mythology, as well as major related classes like Psychology, Minds Brains and Computers (philosophy of artificial intelligence), Statistics, and more. Aside from academics, I’ve been involved in clubs like the Aggie Baking Club, Student-Athlete AAPI club, and the Athlete Mental Health club!
Favorite HTC moment? My favorite HTC CA moment would have to be getting the opportunity to play at NCC’s because it was a great experience for such high level play and team bonding!
Favorite college field hockey moment so far? My favorite moment at UC Davis so far, or a key moment, has been the first day I reported. The day I got to see my name and number in my own locker filled with gear, got to meet my teammates and now closest friends, and start my journey as a collegiate student athlete was so impactful and positive. My other favorite memory so far was team karaoke on the long bus rides- especially when the coaches sing!
What's your advice to current HTC athletes? My advice to current HTC athletes is to prioritize balance. Work ethic and training hockey is so important in going far, and so is remembering to have fun with it and having a full life outside of it. This includes fostering strong friendships, academics, and family time.
Coach Spotlight:
Lauren Zimmerman
East Coast
Where are you originally from? I'm from Newtown, CT.
Favorite HTC memory? My favorite coaching memories with HTC come from traveling with the teams for tournaments and getting to connect with the girls and the parents. It is always so much fun and so many memories made that are so special to me.
Where did you play field hockey in college? I played for Bryant University! I majored in Biology Pre-Health and minored in Psychology and Human Resource Management.
What do you do outside of HTC? I'm also an assistant field hockey coach at Wesleyan University!
What advice do you have for current HTC athletes? My current advice is to learn who you are as a player and continue to push yourself to improve on your knowledge of the game and your stick skills. But I think the most important part of the game is to have fun and enjoy every moment of it.
What's your favorite college memory? My favorite college memory is when Bryant played Brown my freshman year. The game sticks with me today because I do not think anyone fully expected us to beat Brown, but the team worked together and fought hard for a full 60 minutes. It was early on into the season and we were connecting and working hard with each other and for each other. It was a true underdog story that I was so happy I got to be a part of.
Coach Spotlight:
Lindsay Bowman
West Coast
What do you do in addition to HTC? In addition to HTC, I am a head coach at Orangetheory fitness in Carmel Valley, as well as the Varsity Assistant field hockey coach at Torrey Pines High School.
What is/are your favorite HTC moment(s)? My favorite HTC moments are the spring tournaments down at the training center where we get to support the girls play but also get to dust off our gear as well. The early morning Starbucks orders & Panera lunches are always a plus!!
Where are you from? I’m originally from Palmyra, PA.
Where did you play field hockey? I played collegiately at UMass Amherst. The team’s cohesiveness & overall vibe is what sold me. I majored in psychology.
What's your favorite college memory? My favorite memory from college was winning the at large bid my freshman year to play against Maryland in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen!
Athlete Spotlight:
GiGi Ranoldo
East Coast
- Has been with HTC since the 2016-2017 school year
- Committed to LIU Post University in Long Island
- Fun fact: Has ridden the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster
When did you start playing? I signed up for my first HTC clinic in 6th grade!
What's your HTC moment? There have been so many great moments that I can't choose one. I have met so many amazing people and lifelong friends with HTC.
Who's your hero and why? One of my heroes is actually my HTC coach, Ally Hammel. I admire her dedication and love for field hockey. She taught me so much and helped me in so many ways.
What advice do you have for younger HTC athletes? Always believe in yourself and give it 100 percent!
Athlete Spotlight:
Claudia Summers
West Coast
- Joined HTC in 2018
- Also plays at Canyon Crest Academy
- Fun fact: was born in England
When did you start playing? I started playing field hockey when I lived in Pennsylvania. I was five years old!
Favorite HTC moment so far? My favorite HTC moment so far has been traveling to different tournaments. I learn so much and always have a great time with everyone. I especially love CalCup!!
Who's your hero and why? My hero is my sister! She inspires me by constantly working hard, being positive and making me smile!
What are you looking for in a collegiate field hockey program? I am looking for a balance between strong academics, high level field hockey, and a supportive and friendly community.
Do you have any advice for younger HTC athletes? My advice for younger HTC players would be to build a community in your team because as you grow older these people become your best friends and push you to constantly improve and work your hardest.
Hear the Cheers!
Kelsi Lykens
(Coach Shemp)
We are extremely proud and excited to celebrate Coach Shemp on her new position as Head Field Hockey Coach at Lehigh University! We want to thank her for all she has given and done for our HTC athletes. We are very lucky to have her as part of our HTC family and want to wish her the best of luck with her new endeavors. We will always be CHEERING her and her team on!
A big hug, Thank You, and GOOD LUCK to Coach Shemp! We love you!
Jessica Bergen
Congratulations to our own Coach Jess Bergen on her new position as Head Field Hockey Coach at Trinity College. We are so proud and happy for Coach Bergen for this prestigious honor. We cannot wait to celebrate and CHEER for her and her team! Thank you Coach Bergen for all you have done and will do for our HTC athletes and club!
We love having you as a huge part of our HTC family! Congratulations! We love you!
Grace Mangiameli
Coach Grace Mangiameli will be moving into a new position next fall- she will be the graduate assistant field hockey coach at Springfield College. We are so proud of you for taking on this new role!
We are so grateful for all that you've done for our HTC athletes and club so far and can't wait to continue to watch you grow as a coach! We love you!
We're So Proud!
Celebrating our athletes who recently committed to further their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level:
HTC Gives Back!
HTC partnered with the Connecticut Humane Society to raise donations for the year as part of our "HTC Gives Back" campaign. We raised a little over $600 in our first fundraiser at our Hardcourt III tournament, plus many other donations including dog/cat food, toys, collars, and many other necessary items. We're grateful to everyone who donated, including other teams that also donated at our first fundraiser! Our financial goal is set at $3,000 and we look forward to many more events to help the animals!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I attend any club practice at any site or do I have to attend at my home site only?
One of the benefits of our club is that players that are signed up for a club membership or clinic, can attend make up practices at any of our sites. You do not have to notify us that you will be attending another site, we will take attendance at all of our events so we will know what practices you have attended. So make sure you utilize this option in order to get your full compliment of practices!
Can I participate in indoor rules and outdoor rules tournaments?
Yes. Players can register and sign up to play in any tournament that we offer. Players do not have to have any indoor rules experience to play in an indoor rules tournament. We will teach you the rules on site! We encourage all players to compete in as many tournaments as possible as these are fun and a great way to showcase your new skills.
With the Spring Club season approaching, as a current club member, do I have to attend the Spring evaluations?
No! You are already a member of our club, so you do not have to attend any more evaluation sessions. Only NEW players that want to join our club will have to attend one of the evaluation sessions.
What is the Academy Program?
The Academy program is designed for the player that wants a little more practice and opportunity to enhance their skills. Our Academy players will also compete in tournaments together as a team. This past winter, the academy program consisted of turf practices and hard court practices.
Feel free to email us with any questions you might have about our club, we are here to help! You can email Deb at dbrickey@htcfieldhockey.com, Darren at dsmallhorn@htcfieldhockey.com, or Kaeley at kdenegre@htcfieldhockey.com.
Cheers! Thank you for the questions!