Beyond the Scoreboard: The Growth of Hough Field Hockey

October 27, 2025 - Sofia Ramaraju (11)

Ella Yura (10)

What characterizes a quality team? Does it come down to score? To how many games the team was victorious? Or is the true measure of a team dependent upon their character—their composure?

In hindsight, it is a considerable combination of all four. However, one trait serves to exemplify a team's upstanding nature: growth.

Growth is one of the greatest principles a team can pride themselves in, for it relays not only into games, but into a team's actions as well. For growth is not limited to simply one area of life—no, growth is a characteristic that bleeds into every aspect of an individual’s being. Therefore, growth is one of the most valuable assets to possess within a team, as well as its members.

The Hough Varsity Field Hockey team, while still newly established, has managed to make its mark. The majority of the sports at this well renowned high school were created the same year as the school was: 2010. Our beloved Field Hockey team was adapted much more recently, having begun in the fall of 2016; nearly six years after the school was established. But one thing is never to be forgotten: experience does not equate to character nor to progress.

This is an idea that is more than evident within this hardworking team.

On account of Anne Cathey, one of the head coaches of the Hough Varsity Field Hockey team, this program began as a way to provide girls with a new sport to learn; a new challenge that would present them with the vital opportunity to become part of a team. It happened to be that the program also presented a stimulating challenge to the coaches themselves, as the first year they had hardly enough girls to field a team. To further that point, no one at Hough had ever heard of the sport, let alone played it. Therefore, everyone began at square one, which forced the players to step beyond their comfort zones and demonstrate considerable willingness to put effort into something unfamiliar. Furthermore, due to Field Hockey being a club sport, the team had to fully fund themselves with minimum aid from CMS Athletics. Despite these trying circumstances, Coach Anne remarked that the entirety of this program relied upon the success of this team and their capability to improve. This reliance was met with well deserved satisfaction, as the team itself grew at an exponential rate. To embellish upon their growth, the team went from barely managing to establish a team with enough players, to having over 50 girls try out for the team this past year. In fact, according to Allison Mashburn, another head coach of the team, the program has attracted so many players in the past couple of years that a Junior Varsity Field Hockey team was established three years ago to accommodate the surplus of players. Not only that, but the team has made it to the playoffs three out of the five seasons as a Varsity program, which serves to exemplify how far the program has come, and how much improvement they’ve exhibited as a team.

In pink, Sofia Ramaraju (11) can be seen in action

Now, what exactly do the members of this exemplary program consider to be the defining characteristic of a great team?

Nia Foster(10), the goalie of the Hough Varsity Field Hockey team, found that the team’s key trait was their perseverance—their drive to defy the odds. She stated that , “even when we’re down by a lot, we always fight until the last whistle blows”. This statement alone encapsulates the entirety of this program, as in spite of the odds—the adversities—they have never failed to give it their all. Which is why this program has come so far as a whole, for we all know perseverance, no matter where we begin, has the capability to take us far. So truly, how much does a score weigh into a team's value, when grit is what makes a team great? Abby Camodeca (10), a player on the Hough Varsity Field Hockey team, furthers this point, claiming that the team’s “strive is unmatched”. She stated that while the team began with practically no knowledge on the sport, they’ve managed to play head to head with, and win against, teams whose players have been practicing field hockey since before middle school. “It isn’t where we start, it isn’t even where we are! It’s how far we’ve come,” player Carsyn Poole (11) remarks. She has been with the team since her freshman year of high school, and has witnessed the team's growth first hand. “We always support each other…the team becomes akin to a second family every season.” Poole explains that this support system is what enables the incredible growth the team has exhibited. She knows that the team’s perseverance can be attributed to the safe space that the coaches offer each and every player—a space to flourish. Not only that, but Poole claims that the ideals and encouragement shared by the coaches are what motivates this team to keep trying no matter the obstacles.

Hayden Molnar (10)

So what exactly do the coaches impress upon the members of this team that explains the growth and strength of character within it?

Both Coach Mashburn and Coach Anne state that they pride themselves on improving accountability, respect, and teamwork amongst the players each season.

According to Coach Mashburn, these are simply a few of the life principles that the coaches share with the players that have enabled their progress both on and off the field. Coach Mashburn explains that the mutual respect and support that the players offer to one another is what has made this team capable of reaching the lengths that they have. She claims that sportsmanship has a wide range of subdenominations within it, and that it can’t truly be achieved with simply a great skill set. Due to this, Coach Mashburn emphasizes that the program is dedicated to focusing on growth in character as well as in skill. For instance, the team engages in multiple community service activities throughout the season. This past month, the team participated in the creation and donation of ‘Boo Bags’ to an organization that distributes them out to Homeless shelters. Through this act, the players are able to offer back to the community, as well as build a stronger relationship with one another. She explains that community service is one of the many ways that this team has furthered their growth in character, and claims that this growth translates into the team’s remarkable performance on and off the field.

In conclusion, a great team goes beyond a scoreboard, or a win on the field. A truly great team is one that bounces back. A team that faces adversities, and in the face of those adversities has the courage to grow. The Hough field hockey team has demonstrated their greatness time and time again; they have struggled, and still, they have grown. Where they are now is miraculous in itself, but what is truly phenomenal is how far they have come. But, their progress has yet to come to an end, and I think I speak for the whole school when I say how much I look forward to witnessing this team continue to improve, and continue to prove its strength, composure, and character in the seasons to come.

In the images, members of the Hough Varsity Field Hockey team can be seen raising awareness for Breast Cancer at their Pink Out game in order to honor those who have fought or are fighting Breast Cancer, as well as survivors.

Photos credited to photographer Max Gallagher (10)

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