Sophia Gentchos, Violet Bluestein, Skylar Clarke, and Praticha Bhandari are the four seniors who played for the BHS field hockey team this fall. These 12th graders were four of only six returning varsity players, meaning they had to learn how to play with a mostly new team. Despite Covid-19 and the sudden closure of BHS, Gentchos, Bluestein, and Clarke, the team captains this season, both think this year went really well for them. 

“A lot of the season was figuring out what being on varsity meant to everyone,” Gentchos said…”But I think we’ve really come together and I’m so proud of us all for playing so hard.” 

The Seahorses won (2-1) against Rutland on Wednesday, October 21, solidifying their place in the playoffs. The team advanced to play against Bellows Falls on that Friday, the 23rd, which they lost by one point (1-2) making it the last game of high school field hockey these seniors will ever play. 

This was a season of close games for the team, with most losses being only by two or three points. Their two final games were no exception. Up to the last minute these girls were fighting for a goal. 

“We definitely had a strong midfield, which helped us a lot with scoring,” said Clarke who played midfield this season. “I think that we definitely deteriorated offensively and defensively.”  

“Defense struggled a lot with communication. We were all playing as individuals, not as a team,” said Gentchos who played right defense. “At the end I think we really started working as a unit, it took a lot of practice but we definitely improved.” 

With only three wins this year, defeat does not change these girls’ relationship with the game. 

“Our team had a really good mindset. We were able to come back from defeat and still be confident in our team,” Bluestein said. “We didn’t give up and that’s what matters.” 

Looking back, the captains are proud of the work they did this year and the foundation they laid for future varsity players. 

“Being on varsity in the past, helped us show new players the norms and standard of playing a varsity sport,”  Gentchos said. “I think the team is going to do amazing next year.” 

“As captains we helped with communication between the coaches and the players, with so many different circumstances this year there was a larger need for communication,” said Clarke “me and Sophie really worked hard, even just with keeping up good team morale while circumstances were so up in the air.” 

The team had to work with eleven new varsity players, some of whom had never played field hockey before. Even though they were new to the game, the team was surprised with their skills.

Gracie Nigolian, a sophomore this year, learned the game and advanced to varsity within the same season. 

“The last couple games she [Nigolian] played, she was in for most of the game. She improved significantly. She went from zero to 100 in only a few months,” said Clarke. 

Clarke, Bluestein, and Gentchos all began playing field hockey at Edmunds Middle School. 

“I have been playing field hockey competitively since sixth grade, but started playing for fun when I was in fourth grade,” said Clarke.

It is always hard to say goodbye to a sport your senior year, but Gentchos makes the best out of a bittersweet ending.

“I am so glad it ended like this. We have all grown so much. I really learned so much from this sport,” Gentchos said.