Field Hockey wins state championship behind strong sophomore class

​By: Kyle Gonce

After finishing their season 16-1, culminating in a 2A State Championship victory, Glenelg’s field hockey team already has its sights set on next season. 

Following a 3-2 loss to Marriotts Ridge on Sept. 17, the Gladiators rattled off 13-straight wins, the last five being playoff shutouts en route to their 1-0 win over Hereford on Nov. 13, the team’s first championship since 2017.

“I was really proud of the girls,” said head coach Nicole Trunzo. “They worked really, really hard, and they deserve it. That great loss in overtime against Marriotts Ridge served as a positive learning experience for me and the team.” 

Seniors Emmy Piwowarski and Emily Baker also credited the players’ work ethic and supportive spirit for their win. 

“As a senior, I am so grateful we ended our last season with a state championship,” Piwowarski said. “It was amazing to see our team come together multiple times throughout the season to support each other and play hard each game. The girls worked so hard and it was awesome to see all that training pay off. The contributing factors in capturing the championship were the skills of each of the players and the closeness of our team.”

Baker agreed, saying, “Everyone was able to support and believe in each other, which I know was a huge factor in our success. Because we have such a young team, it will be exciting to see what else they will accomplish in the next few years.” 

It is, in fact, a young team. 

Despite graduating 8 seniors, the starting lineup in the championship game included mostly underclassmen. Since all non-graduating players are slated to return next season, the stakes are high for a repeat championship run.

“We’ve talked about it already,” said sophomore A.J. Eyre, the team’s leading goal scorer. “Anything less than winning another championship will be a let down. There are so many talented players on the team, and we all have a desire to continue to be successful. Glenelg field hockey is on the map, and we want to keep it there as long as possible.” 

Trunzo hopes to keep it there as well. Her blueprint for success next year is simple: “States or bust. With the skills our players have, we always want to make that our goal.”