Bridgewater Athletes Earn Top Awards At Junior Olympics

It may not be as popular of a sport as baseball and soccer, but three local players have proven that their talent and skills can take them to the top.

Three field hockey players—and students at Bridgewater-Raritan High School—participated in the 2010 Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics Games for field hockey, held in Virginia Beach in August, and were recognized for their skills as individuals and team members.

Junior Kayla Sullivan, sophomore Catherine Caro and sophomore Rachel Yaney took home medals for their work at the games, with Kayla and Rachel receiving gold medals, and Catherine being named to the All Tournament Team.

"When I found out, I started jumping up and down," Kayla said. "I was so excited, and I couldn't believe they said my name. I was proud of myself."

For Catherine, being picked as one of the members of the All Tournament Team—which is made up of some of the best players at the games—was a thrill on its own.

"It's exciting, and something you don't normally think about," she said. "It's like a dream come true."

Qualifying for the Junior Olympic Games, Kayla said, requires participation in the USA Field Hockey Futures Program, known as the Olympic Developmental Program of the United States Field Hockey Association. The goal of the program is to work with talented athletes and improve skills in field hockey.

Kayla said she began in the program in eighth grade as a way to improve her field hockey skills. Participants are taken from all over the country, then split by region and age groups.

From there, Kayla said, they learn different skills for playing the sport.

"It is a fun experience," she said. "We learn how to work as a team, and see the whole field before the ball comes."

Working with professionals and college coaches through the Futures program helps players improve their skills and understand the sport better, Kayla said.

"We learn when to be a team player," she said. "And we grow as leaders."

"It's practices and working on skills," Catherine added.

As members of the Futures program, the three girls were eligible to try out in May for the National Futures Championships, which were held earlier in the summer. From there, the athletes in the top 10 percent at the championships were chosen to participate in the Junior Olympic games.

"It is girls from all over the country who participate," Kayla said. "You show that you understand the game, and have better skill levels."

Catherine said doing well in the championships is about proving your abilities both on the team and alone.

"You show you can be a team player, but can beat someone in a one-on-one match," she said.

For Kayla, this was the second, and last, time she could participate in the Junior Olympics because of her age. Girls older than 16 years are not eligible for the Junior Olympics.

She said she is glad she had the opportunity to participate more than once because it gave her more chances to do her best.

"I don't have the regret of not trying," she said. "I would recommend people start earlier to try to qualify because then they have the next year to try again."

For Catherine and Rachel, this was their first time in the Junior Olympics, although Catherine said she had tried last year and didn't make it.

"My first year I didn't get it, but it made me work that much harder," she said. "My advice is to go for it. You will be unhappy with yourself if you don't try."

At the championships, Kayla said, the judges look at individual skills before determining who should be sent on to the Junior Olympics.

"They look at skills like strong passing and receiving," Kayla said. "And they look at whether I can look up and dribble. If you can do dynamic moves, they look at that, and actions on the field."

"They also look at how you react if you lose the ball," Catherine added. "They check if you just go to get it back."

Kayla said there is no real preparation for attending the games, just knowing individual skills and practicing if possible.

"I mentally prepare," she said. "I say that I'm as good as the other girls, and I'm going to work my hardest."

At the Olympic games themselves, Kayla said, matches were scheduled around the heat when the Junior Olympics were held from Aug. 2 though Aug. 7. She said they played in one or two games each day, then had to time to explore Virginia Beach for the remainder of the afternoons.

According to Catherine, there were about 120 girls from all over the country playing field hockey at the Junior Olympics, and it was exciting to meet so many different people.

The girls were placed randomly on teams, and the medals at the end were based on how well individuals and teams did in the tournament.

"I was on the Navy team," Catherine said. "You go to these events and you see someone you know, then meet people you normally wouldn't."

And the skills they have learned both as part of the Futures program and at the Junior Olympics can be translated to what they do for their teams in Bridgewater.

"We talk to our coaches about different field formations we learned," Kayla said. "And we bring back our skills about working as a team."

As for the sport itself, Kayla said she has been playing field hockey for six years, while Catherine has been playing for four. Both, with Rachel, are members of the high school's varsity girls field hockey team.

"I really like the teams I've played for, and getting to meet new people," Kayla said. "Field hockey is unique and requires its own special skills. It is not as commonly known because it is more of European sport, and it's not known for women to play."

Catherine said that because field hockey is normally just played in the Olympics, it is not very familiar to those not invested in the sport.

"You see things like the World Cup for soccer, but for field hockey, it's just the Olympics," she said.

For the most part, the girls enjoy the camaraderie with their teammates, while also having the opportunity to be leaders.

"In field hockey, the girls are so close," Catherine said. "We are like a family. And I get to be a leader and take pride in what I do best."

Although the high school team is a little smaller this year, as it went from 20 girls to 15, Kayla said it is still great to see so many of the same faces each year.

"I love the girls, and the coaches are great," she said. "We know we can push, and that makes us work harder. But we all have good off-the-field chemistry."

Catherine said one of the main benefits of having such long practices together and working with the same people over the years is the fact that they know how each person plays.

"We know how everyone plays because we are always together," she said. "And we can play off that."

Kayla said that, although she doesn't know for sure, there is the possibility that fewer people are part of the team because of the recently instituted pay to play initiatives for the high school sports. She said there is a chance that fewer freshman are joining because they are unfamiliar with the sport.

"Not a lot of people play field hockey, and they don't want to waste their money on something they may not like," she said. "I understand it's for budget cuts. But I don't mind paying to do what I love."

Catherine said the money is worth it to be able to continue participating in the sport.

"I always just look forward to being with everyone," she said. "Our parents see that we love the sport so much, and they see us enjoying it."

In addition to the high school team, the girls said they are planning to stay in the Futures program through their senior years of high school, and hope to continue playing field hockey into college.

Both girls, who are also members of the high school's lacrosse team, said they don't think of themselves as top athletes in Bridgewater because they participated in the Junior Olympics. They said they are just proud to have had the opportunity to take part and place in the games.

"I did something for myself," Catherine said. "It will benefit me."

"It is just an achievement for myself," Kayla added. "My friends think it's cool. But I come back to reality, and know I accomplished something."