Congratulations to MAX Field Hockey’s 2024 High School State, Regional & National Coaches of the Year!
NATIONAL & PENNSYLVANIA COACH OF THE YEAR
REGAN MARSCHER
Conestoga High School
Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Marscher led Conestoga to the program’s first state final in 37 years and first ever state championship in program history. With a 2-1 overtime win over national powerhouse Villa Maria Academy, the Pioneers claimed the 2024 Pennsylvania AAA State Championship, perhaps the most difficult state championship in the nation to win with 10 of the Pennsylvania Region Top 20 teams in it, 5 ranked in the national Top 25. It was a rematch of the District 3 AAA final that Villa Maria won 3-2. Marscher’s game plan and coaching in the final enabled Stoga to stop the top scorer in the nation in Caitlin Connell, and won her alma mater their first state championship and a Final Ranking of #4 in the nation.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION & VIRGINIA COACH OF THE YEAR
MARY WERKHEISER
Norfolk Academy
Norfolk, Virginia
Werkheiser went out on top in her last season at Norfolk Academy, capturing the VISAA Division 1 State Championship, defeating Bishop O’Connell 3-0 in the final. The Bulldogs finished 18-3 as the top ranked squad in the Mid-Atlantic Region and the #19 ranked team in the nation, outscoring opponents 125-19 (without their standout player Joji Purdy for much of the season). Their three losses came to teams all ranked in the Top 25. Werkheiser boasts 6 VISAA Championships, 24 TCIS Conference Championships, and over 450 wins during three decades as Head Coach since taking over the program in 1995.
NEW ENGLAND REGION & MASSACHUSETTS COACH OF THE YEAR
KATE DOLAN
Phillips Academy Andover
Andover, Massachusetts
Dolan led Andover to a perfect 19-0 season, claiming the NEPSAC A Championship with a 2-0 victory over Taft School, a rematch of the 2023 Championship in which Taft claimed a 3-2 victory. The Big Blue were the dominant squad in New England this Fall, holding the top spot in the Regional Rankings straight through from preseason. They finished the season with a final ranking of #18 in the nation and outscored opponents 110-7, setting a new program single season scoring record. Dolan’s Andover team has now advanced to the NEPSAC A Championship game in 7 of the last 9 years, claiming 5 titles and recording undefeated seasons 3 times.
NEW JERSEY STATE & REGION COACH OF THE YEAR
MARY PAT MERCURO
Montclair High School
Montclair, New Jersey
Mercuro was named the NJ.com Coach of the Year after leading Montclair to a 20-4-1 record, final ranking of #7 in the state of New Jersey, the North Group 4 Championship, and an appearance in the Group 4 state championship game. 2024 marked her 31st and final season at the helm of the Mounties’ field hockey program, finishing with 457 career wins and her first North Group 4 Championship since 2015. Her team’s only losses in this memorable season came to dominant NJ state champion teams West Essex, Kingsway, and Oak Knoll School.
NORTHEAST REGION & CONNECTICUT COACH OF THE YEAR
IAN TAPSALL
Staples High School
Westport, Connecticut
Tapsall led Staples to a dominant 2024 season, finishing 22-1, winning the FCIAC and Connecticut Class L State Championships, finishing as the top team in the Northeast Region and #7 ranked team in the nation. The Wreckers dominated opponents, outscoring them 171-18. They defeated defending State Champion Darien 3 times throughout the season- 5-2, 3-2 OT, and 5-2. Their lone loss was in a back and forth battle with national powerhouse Camden Catholic of New Jersey 2-3 at the High School National Invitational.
WEST/MIDWEST REGION & CALIFORNIA COACH OF THE YEAR
PAULA CONWAY
The Bishop’s School
La Jolla, California
Conway made school history in her first season coaching at The Bishop’s School leading the Knights to the program’s first ever CIF San Diego Open Division Championship, claiming the title with a 2-0 victory over La Jolla. The Knights lost just one game in her inaugural season, went 10-0 in the Western League and finished 25-1 overall. Bishop’s ended the year on a 14-game win streak, outscored opponents 92-7 through 26 games, and finished with a final ranking of #8 in the West/Mid-West Region.
STATE COACHES OF THE YEAR
COLORADO
TORI KARSTEN
Cherry Creek High School
Greenwood Village, Colorado
Karsten led Cherry Creek to the program’s first Colorado State Championship title since 2007 in her first year as Head Coach. It was the Bruins third overall state title. Her squad finished the season 17-2 with a +51 goal margin, claiming the championship with a 1-0 win over Kent Denver in the final. Karsten was recognized as the CHSAA State Coach of the Year.
DELAWARE
JODI HOLLAMON
Delmar High School
Delmar, Delaware
Hollamon led Delmar to their 9th straight state title in her 26th and final season at the helm before retiring. The Wildcats captured the Delaware Division 2 State Championship with a 4-3 win over Wilmington Friends in the final, finishing the season 18-1, with a final ranking of #7 in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Hollamon’s squad cemented their spot as the top team in Delaware this Fall with two wins over rival and Division 1 State Champions Cape Henlopen, 4-2 and 2-1.
ILLINOIS
BRITTANY ROMANO
New Trier High School
Winnetka, Illinois
In Romano’s first season taking over as Head Coach following Stephanie Nykaza’s retirement, the Trevians didn’t miss a beat. New Trier finished 23-1-1, won the Illinois State Championship, and ended with a final ranking of #14 in the nation and #3 in the West/Mid-West Region. Their lone lose of the season was to New Jersey Group 2 State Champion and #5 ranked West Essex at the High School National Invitational, where they registered wins over North Carolina State Champion Cardinal Gibbons and the top team in the Mid-Atlantic Region and VISAA Division 1 State Champions, Norfolk Academy of Virginia.
KENTUCKY
JODY SCHAEFFER
Assumption High School
Louisville, Kentucky
Schaeffer led Assumption to the 2024 Kentucky State Championship and a final ranking of #6 in the West/Mid-West Region. The Rockets finished the season 19-6-3 with their only in-state loss coming to the defending state champions CAL. The two would tie their second meeting, and Assumption ultimately got a win late in the season to win the third matchup. Schaeffer challenged her team this season with a highly competitive schedule playing top teams from 9 different states over their 28 games, including matches at the High School National Invitational, Virginia Beach, and competition against top Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri teams. Assumption’s 2024 State Championship, a 3-2 win over rival Sacred Heart Academy, is their 3rd title in Schaeffer’s 7 years as Head Coach.
MAINE
JAMIE EMERSON
Brewer High School
Brewer, Maine
Emerson led Brewer to the program’s first ever state championship appearance this Fall, turning around a program that went 4-10 prior to her taking over in 2022. The Witches finished the 2024 season 14-3 as the #16 ranked team in the New England Region. They knocked off Maine powerhouse Skowhegan 3-0 in the Class A Semifinal becoming the first team to beat Skowhegan in regional play since 2000. The win earned the Witches a spot in the Class A final where they would fall to defending state champions Cheverus, 1-3. Emerson was named the Varsity Maine Coach of the Year and KVAC A Coach of the Year in addition to recording her 100th career win in 2024.
MARYLAND
CAREY FETTING-SMITH
Bryn Mawr School
Baltimore, Maryland
Fetting-Smith led Bryn Mawr to the 2024 IAAM A Conference Championship, claiming victory as the #2 seed over #1 Archbishop Spalding 4-3 in overtime, a team they had loss to earlier in the season, 0-3. The Mawrtians finished 15-2-1 with a final national ranking of #23 and as the #4 ranked team in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Fetting-Smith’s team demonstrated incredible resilience and work ethic throughout the season. Their only other loss was to the Virginia Group 5 State Champions, Nansemond River at the High School National Invitational.
MICHIGAN
LESLIE FRY
Chelsea High School
Chelsea, Michigan
Fry led Chelsea to the program’s first ever state title after reaching the final 3 times since 2015. The Bulldogs claimed the Michigan Division 2 State Championship with a 1-0 win over D2 powerhouse Dexter, who they lost to 2-5 and tied 2-2 during the regular season. The title win was Chelsea’s first win over the Dreadnaughts since 2015. Fry was recognized with the Coaches Award for the Michigan Southeastern Conference following the program’s historic season, finishing 16-3-1, with a final ranking of #17 in the West/Mid-West Region.
MISSOURI
KATE GRAFT
Villa Duchesne
Saint Louis, Missouri
Graft led Villa Duchesne to the program’s third title in 4 years, claiming the 2024 Missouri State Championship with a 1-0 win over defending champs John Burroughs School in the final, a team they lost to 0-3 during the regular season. The Saints finished the season 23-2, with their other loss coming to Kentucky State Champions, Assumption. Graft was recognized with the 2024 Janet Esrock Coach of the Year Award and her team finished with a final ranking of #7 in the West/Mid-West Region.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
MICHELLE TIANI
Keene High School
Keene, New Hampshire
Tiana led Keene to the program’s first ever state championship in her 15th season at the helm, capturing the New Hampshire Division 1 State Championship with a 1-0 win over defending champs Dover in the final. The Blackbirds finished as the #8 ranked squad in the New England Region with a record of 18-0-1, the program’s first undefeated campaign. Tiani also reached her milestone 100th win during the quarterfinals.
NEW YORK
JEN SYKES
Guilderland High School
Guilderland Center, New York
Sykes led Guilderland to the program’s first ever state championship appearance in 2024. The Lady Dutch’s postseason run was exceptional and included back-to-back Section 2 Class A Championships and a New York State Class A Regional Championship, defeating previously unbeaten Sachem East, Section XI Champions and the top squad out of Long Island, 4-1 in the state semifinal. Sykes has brought the Guilderland program to new heights over the last several years, attending the High School National Invitational each September from the event’s inception to face tough opponents that would get them ready for postseason play. Guilderland forced defending state champions and New York State powerhouse Mamaroneck into double OT in the state final, ultimately falling 1-2. Sykes was recognized as the Times Union Coach of the Year and her Guilderland squad finished the season as the #12 ranked team in the Northeast Region.
NORTH CAROLINA
MICHELLE KASOLD
Cary Christian School
Cary, North Carolina
Kasold led Cary Christian School to the 2024 NCISSA State Championship, claiming the title with a 2-0 win over defending champs Charlotte Country Day School, a repeat of last year’s final they lost 0-2. The Knights completed a perfect 16-0 season under Kasold despite having only 15 rostered players that included 2 middle schoolers. Cary Christian finished their storied 2024 season as the #11 ranked team in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
OHIO
TERRI SIMONETTI-FROST
Thomas Worthington High School
Worthington, Ohio
Simonetti-Frost led the top team in Ohio to the program’s third straight Ohio State Championship this Fall in her 26th season at the helm. The three-peat makes Thomas Worthington the first school in Ohio history to three-peat twice (’15, ’16, ’17 and now ’22, ’23, ’24). The Cardinals were absolutely dominant in state tournament play, outscoring opponents 26-0 and outshooting opponents 100-3. They also defeated Kentucky State Champions Assumption 3-1 in the regular season. Simonetti-Frost was named the Central Ohio Coach of the Year and achieved her 400th career win early in September. The Cardinals finished the season 17-4-1 with a final ranking of #5 in the West/Mid-West Region.
RHODE ISLAND
LESLIE CATO-JONES
Moses Brown School
Providence, Rhode Island
Cato-Jones led Moses Brown to the 2024 Rhode Island Division 1 State Championship, claiming the title in a rematch of the 2023 final they lost with a convincing 4-1 victory over rival East Greenwich. The Quakers went 16-0 against in state competition, allowing just 4 goals against Rhode Island opponents and 7 overall, finishing with a goal differential of 66-7. Moses Brown’s lone loss of the season came at the High School National Invitational in a challenging match-up against Crestwood High School of PA. The Quakers finished the season with a final ranking of #5 in the Northeast Region.
TEXAS/OKLAHOMA
EMILY WHITE
St. John’s School
Houston, Texas
White rose to the challenge in her first year as Head Coach, taking over the national powerhouse program of St. John’s School that graduated a talented 2024 class with 3 National All-Americans. She led the Mavericks to the 2024 Southwest Preparatory Conference Championship with a 2-1 win over rival Kinkaid School after the two split matches in the regular season. St. John’s also registered a big 2-1 win over Pennsylvania AAA State Champions Conestoga at the High School National Invitational. White’s Mavericks finished the season 14-3, as the top team in the West/Mid-West Region and #12 ranked team in the nation.
VERMONT
KELLY MCCLINTOCK
Rice Memorial High School
South Burlington, Vermont
McClintock led her alma mater Rice Memorial to an undefeated 16-0-1 season and Vermont Division 1 State Championship in 2024. The final was a rematch of last year’s championship game in which they fell 1-2 to rival South Burlington. The Green Knights finished the season with a final ranking of #7 in the New England Region and McClintock was recognized as the Metro Division Coach of the Year.
WISCONSIN
MELISSA BRENGOSZ
Arrowhead Union High School
Hartland, Wisconsin
Brengosz led Arrowhead to the 2024 Wisconsin State Championship in her 17th season at the helm. It is the program’s 4th state title in her 17 seasons and 13th time making the state final game. The Warhawks finished the season 11-3-2, undefeated in conference play, and allowing just 2 goals against in-state opponents.
