This year’s field hockey team made it to the State Finals, an incredible achievement that the Wilmington Friends field hockey team has not experienced since 1996. Despite how impressive this accomplishment may be, the team achieved many more of their goals as well.
The 2024 girls field hockey team wasn’t only strongly goal-oriented and athletically talented, but had an amazing sense of teamwork and communication.
Each player recognized the value of their teammates, and in turn created a unique harmony on the field.
WFS Senior and team captain Sawyer Rowland ‘25 believes teamwork is one of the reasons behind this year’s major achievements. “What makes the team so successful is the strong bonds and friendships between teammates,” says Rowland. “From the first day of preseason, we knew the potential the team carried. Every member on the team played a crucial part to the team’s success.”
In addition to appreciating the community, both coaches and players demonstrated grit. Although the team didn’t experience many losses, they remained resilient when they fell to Delmar during the regular season, the #1 team in the state, who they ended up facing again in the finals. Their previous loss only made them more determined to put up an excellent fight during the State Finals.
“I’m proud of the grit the team showed throughout the season,” says Rowland. “We never once gave up and always played for each other.”
To strengthen the community, the team participates in bonding activities, such as the “Field Hockey Scavenger Hunt”, which takes place a few weeks before the end of the regular season. Activities like these secure the strong friendships and relationships between teammates, ultimately improving the team’s communicative skills on the field.
However, the camaraderie between team members has not always been this way.
Lila Rubano ‘26 recalls a different atmosphere during her freshman year. “Basically we were little new freshmen, a little scared, and we’re watching these seniors who are pretty good at field hockey. I remember, we were sitting in a circle at break, and they told us to be quiet, and said they had an announcement to make. They were like, I just want to let you know that we’re not going to be your friends, so don’t talk to us in the hallways.” As a freshman, Lila felt excluded, and like the team was not a safe environment to share her thoughts.
Molly Dolan ‘26 went through a similar experience freshman year, and now says, “The friendship on our team is my favorite part about it, and it’s always been like that,” Dolan says. “I’ve had cousins come to the games, and they say that it looks like we are all best friends with each other.”
Between Coach Kelcey Hutchinson’s extensive goalie background, JV Coach Pamela Love’s positive outlook, and Coach Clothier’s 11 years of coaching experience at Friends, the players feel well supported.
According to Rowland ‘25, Coach Clothier often hands out a quote to every member of the team during an important moment. “The quotes he gives us before the game are impactful and always have a deeper meaning behind them,” says Rowland. “He has an ability to inspire the team to believe in ourselves as well as others which helps lead the team to success.”
As Coach Clothier often says to both the girls field hockey and soccer teams, “A successful season isn’t always represented by wins and losses. It’s represented by improvement, individually, and as a team”.
