![WSPN’s Annika Martins and Maddie Zajac explore the athletic life of senior Annabelle Zhang through her badminton career. “This [photo] is me and my former partner after we won the 2022 junior nationals mixed doubles category,” Zhang said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6629-1200x900.jpg)
This year, with only 24 players combined on the junior varsity and varsity teams, the Wayland High School Field Hockey program has the smallest roster since Shelly Fraser started coaching 23 years ago. As players for the WHS field hockey teams for three years, we have seen the interest level in the sport decline and we have concerns for what the future may hold for WHS field hockey.
As varsity field hockey athletes who have been a part of the program for many years, we have grown to love the sport, and it has become a central part of our lives. The team has always brought positivity to the start of the school year, and it’s something we look forward to in the fall. As juniors this year, we were looking forward to meeting new players to bond with this season, but the extreme decline in numbers was disappointing.
Last year, the field hockey team had 16 seniors who have now graduated, leaving several spots open on the roster. This year, only five freshmen joined field hockey, resulting in significantly less players for the 2023 season. The players that were new to the sport had a lot to learn in a short period of time in order to be ready for their first game.
Because the numbers are so small this year, multiple players in the program are considered ‘swing players.’ Such players will likely play in both varsity and jv level games. Though some players are more than willing to take on this challenge, others are concerned about how far they can exert themselves before becoming physically exhausted, which could compromise their performance during future practices and games.
On the upside, varsity players can get more practice at different positions and try new things on the field with less pressure attached to a JV game. So, although there have been a lot of changes to the team’s dynamics from previous years, players are making the best out of the situation. Through warm-ups and partner drills, players have bonded between grades which has made the team better at working together.
With new opportunities being offered, hopes are high for a comeback for WHS field hockey. The new Wayland youth field hockey program for kids ages seven through 13 is promising for a new generation of field hockey players. Kids starting to play at a young age improves the quality of players in Wayland, as they have more time to develop their skills and bring them to the high school level. Although these players won’t be at WHS at the same time as us, it is a good piece of mind that the team will have more players and people interested in growing the sport within the community.
