WHS field hockey team learns about being a team and family - By Michelle Libby

Photos by Emma Davis

Although the Windham High School field hockey team didn’t make it to the playoff season, they learned so much about being a team and a family, said coach Melissa Dubois. 
 

“We worked hard, played hard and everything we did we did together. I treated them like they are my own children. I hope they go the feeling of family through field hockey,” Dubois said. 

Dubois did not want to cut players this year and with the building of a team, her first year as a returning coach, she was happy to have the depth and feeder programs and support of 50 athletes for three teams.

The JV team was “unscorable” and finished with a 13-2-1 record. At the varsity level, their record was 4-9-1. “It was all about character and instilling self-confidence, for that we had a stellar season,” Dubois said. 

Freshman Grace Sawyer earned Rookie of the Year team honors for field hockey in the SMAA despite the fact she’d never played in the goal before this year. Other standouts were the three captains, seniors Erin Malloy and Matti Marcello and junior Hannah Skvorak. Dubois described Katie Hunter as “a general on the field.” 

“I’m famous for telling the girls, ‘We’re not dead, it’s going to make us stronger’,” said Dubois. Next year Dubois plans to continue the work on confidence and mindset with her players. 

Photos by Emma Davis