The girls’ varsity field hockey team, led by Head Coach Chapin Yates, has had a season full of learning. With their record standing at 3-9 up to this point, the team has put in effort every single day and will look to close the season on a high note.
This team puts great emphasis on teamwork and understands that with a good work ethic, anything is possible. If they can walk off the field after every game knowing that they played their hardest, the results will show for themselves.
The Wyverns have seen it all this year. From blowout wins and losses to last-second heartbreaks, they have learned to stay the course, let the losses roll off their backs, and focus on the next contest. “I’m really proud of how this group has competed and continued to grow throughout the season,” Coach Yates said. “We’ve held strong teams to close scores, and that reflects our consistency, effort, and commitment to playing together.”
An example of this toughness is the Oct. 18 matchup against Westminster School. As the girls faced off against a team with several college commits, they kept their heads down and remained focused. With senior forward Captain Kate Dempsey-Weiner notching the first goal of the game off a smooth reverse chip shot, the Wyverns continued their pressure. Junior goalie Selma Knutson stayed strong in net with 11 saves throughout the game. As the game remained tied deep into the fourth quarter, the Wyverns had their chances, but ultimately a late shot from the Martlets found the back of the net, resulting in a 2-1 loss.
The girls have learned a lot about themselves this year. Leading them through it all has been Dempsey-Weiner. The Bates commit has been the center of attention for all opponents due to her exceptional stick skills and IQ on the field. “I am really proud of how everybody has stepped up this year. We have dealt with a few injuries, which definitely prevented us from winning more games, but we haven’t let that define us,” Dempsey-Weiner said. “It’s a lot of pressure being the only Captain, but I love this team, and I love working with the girls.”
With a few games left on the slate, the Wyverns will focus on making the play easier across the field as they look to wreak some havoc before the season comes to a close. “We’re really looking forward to our upcoming matchups against Ethel Walker and Suffield, especially as we celebrate our seniors,” she said. “Those games will be a great opportunity to finish the season strong and honor all the hard work this group has put in.”
