One Step Closer to Naming Junior National Teams

Recently USA Field Hockey released the 2016 Stars & Stripes Elite Tournament & Training Camp U17 & U19 athlete selections.  72 players in all were named from a combination of 2016 summer events at the Nook, including the National Futures Championships, Stars & Stripes Games, Young Women’s Championship and Junior National Camp.

These elite players are one step closer to being named to the U17 and U19 Junior National Teams.  The next step is the brand new Stars & Stripes Elite Tournament and Training Camp, which will be held at the Spooky Nook Sports complex in Lancaster, PA from December 26-31.

There are lots of familiar faces in the mix.  Only two out of the 67 eligible 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 players selected were not included in MAX Field Hockey’s recent players rankings (both are goalkeepers).  Two of MAX Field Hockey’s 2015 High School Regional Players of the Year are in the mix again- Meredith Sholder (Emmaus High School- PA) and Megan Rodgers (Serra High School- CA).  Both are very strong candidates for our upcoming Regional and National Preseason Players to Watch.

Pennsylvania continues to prove that it is the hotbed of field hockey.  Half of the selected players hail from the state of Pennsylvania (36 of the 72) and 30 of those players are competing for two of the top clubs in the country- the WC Eagles (20 players selected) and XCalibur (10 players selected).  A quick look at the High Schools the 72 athletes attend and you will also notice many familiar High School field hockey programs.  9 High Schools have multiple athletes in the mix and almost all of those have been a mainstay in MAX Field Hockey’s Regional & National High School Rankings.

The following is a complete breakdown of the U17 and U19 selected athletes by state, club, high school, college commitment, and MAX Field Hockey Player Rankings.  Congratulations to the selected players!

ATHLETES BY STATE (Total: 72 Athletes):

Pennsylvania: 36  (50%)
Virginia: 7
California: 5
Massachusetts: 5
New Jersey: 5
Maryland: 3
Illinois: 2
Maine: 2
New York: 2
Delaware: 1
New Hampshire: 1
North Carolina: 1
Ohio: 1
Texas: 1

ATHLETES BY CLUB (Top 5):

1) WC Eagles (PA): 20
2) XCalibur (PA): 10
3T) Rush (CA): 4
3T) TCOYO (VA): 4
5T) Boston FHC (MA): 3
5T) Freedom HKY (MD): 3
5T) New Heights (NJ): 3
5T) Princeton FHC (NJ): 3

ATHLETES BY HIGH SCHOOL (Schools w/multiple selections):

1T) Conestoga High School (PA): 3
1T) Donegal High School (PA): 3
1T) Serra High School (CA): 3
1T) Unionville High School (PA): 3
1T) Villa Maria Academy (PA): 3
6T) Archbishop Spalding High School (MD): 2
6T) Emmaus High School (PA): 2
6T) Norfolk Academy (VA): 2
6T) Oak Knoll School (NJ): 2

ATHLETES BY COLLEGE COMMITMENT (Colleges w/multiple committed selections):

1T) Princeton University: 5
1T) University of North Carolina: 5
1T) University of Virginia: 5
4T) Duke University: 4
4T) University of Louisville: 4
6T) Boston College: 3
6T) UC Berkeley: 3
6T) University of Maryland: 3
9T) Northwestern University: 2
9T) Stanford University: 2
9T) Wake Forest University: 2

ATHLETES BY MAX FIELD HOCKEY PLAYER RANKING (2016s through 2019s):

Top 5: 12
Top 50: 51
Next 50: 2
Not Ranked: 2 (both GKs)

*View most accurate and up-to-date selection and event info at USA Field Hockey’s website