Participating in sports for the past four years has been a central element of my high school experience.

When I joined the field hockey program in the fall of my freshman year, I felt an immediate sense of belonging. It helped make the often-intimidating adjustment to Greenwich High School a lot smoother.

Like any other team sport, field hockey requires much more than just skill and hard work. Success requires a delicate balance of talent, teamwork, drive and communication. This past season, I discovered just how critical teamwork and camaraderie is to a team's success as the GHS field hockey team tried to adapt to a new head coach and the loss to graduation of most of our starting lineup.

I admit, I became spoiled

ANNIE ROSENCRANS (GREENWICH CITIZEN photo / Amy Mortensen)
during my sophomore and junior years on the varsity team. Our record was impressive and we won both the FCIAC and State championships for two consecutive years. We had enormous talent and depth, which combined with great team chemistry made for two very successful seasons.

This year however, the varsity field hockey team got a reality check. With a new head coach and more than half the team comprised of first-year players, we knew that we had a lot of work to do. We realized that winning

Advertisement
was going to require some serious effort and determination, and for the first time in my Greenwich field hockey career, winning was not to be taken for granted. Every day of practice was a learning experience for each member of the team as we adapted to a new coaching style and to one another as both athletes and individuals. To the surprise of many the team did well, finishing with a record of 13-2-1 and making it to the FCIAC championships. However, we were all stunned when we lost in the quarterfinals of the state tournament, in what ended up being the final game of my high school career.

When I look back on this past season, I can't help but feel a little disappointed. Where did we go wrong? I know that everyone worked as hard as they could, but perhaps something was missing. Maybe, somewhere along the way, the team lost sight of why we play field hockey to begin with. In putting so much pressure on ourselves, we seemed to have forgotten to enjoy the game. For me, sports are about the joy of the game and the thrill of competition. I truly believe that when you love what you are doing, you perform at your best.

As I prepare for field hockey at the collegiate level, I am anxious and apprehensive and yet excited to start fresh with a new group of athletes from all across the country. I think that my experience on the Greenwich High School team has prepared me for whatever happens in the next four years of my athletic career, and I am confident that I will be up to the challenge.

Annie Rosencrans is a senior at Greenwich High School and has been a member of the varsity field hockey and tennis teams for the past three years. She was selected to the All-FCIAC West team for field hockey this fall and plans to play field hockey next year at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.