P . 12 | OCTOBER 2022 | THE HAMMONTONIAN
A look at some of the town ’ s best field hockey players
FIELD HOCKEY , from P . 11 who influenced me to be a goalie . It was the best decision I ever made . Although being a goalie was a highlypressured position on the field , I enjoyed the challenges and knew it was for me . The friendships and bonds I made still carry on today . As I ’ ve approached 20 years of coaching the sport , I continue to coach goalies and instill all that I ’ ve learned and would like them to carry on ,” Durham said .
She said she feels programs have expanded in town since she was younger .
“ I feel that field hockey has come a long way in this town , especially with the programs that have started in town . I ’ m so happy girls are enjoying and learning the sport at such a young age ,” Durham said .
At St . Joseph , the career goal-scoring record belongs to Emily DeMarco , who played for her father , John , who led the Wildcats to more than 300 victories and several sectional titles . DeMarco broke her sister , Megan ’ s , record in 2014 .
She recalled the friendships made while playing and the impact field hockey has had on the town .
“ Playing field hockey in the town of Hammonton is something incredibly special . It provides you with a community that is so supportive and passionate about the game , the people and their successes . I truly think that ’ s why is such a generational / family sport in out town and why most players today have either their older sisters , cousins or even their moms [ who ] played ,” Emily DeMarco said .
That sense of community links the two local teams as well as the town ’ s youth program , the Hammonton Stick Chicks .
“ I helped start the youth program in town because many players were going somewhere else to play and I felt that we should have something here to help grow the sport and it ’ s been a huge success ,” Morano said .
Community and giving back were a common theme among former players .
“ The field hockey community is a very close-knit community and I think it shows when you see how supportive former players are to the younger players ,” Donio said .
Emily DeMarco also spoke of the bonds player develop .
“ Playing at St . Joe , I experienced the same support and sense of community from my teammates and our fans . Playing for and helping create a winning legacy in our town and our conference was something I ’ ll never forget and couldn ’ t have done without the encouragement of our families ,” she said .
Another former Wildcat , Carlina Sacco , also spoke of the lessons learned from the sport and the desire to contribute to the next generation of players .
“ Playing at St . Joe was such an amazing experience . It taught me how to work hard not only in my sport but also in school . It also taught me a lot of life skills that I brought to college and still use to this day .
The life lessons , camaraderie and successes are what have helped weave the sport into the fabric of the town , and years after graduating , many players continue to give back to the local field hockey community . Even though I don ’ t play anymore , I love to help coach locally because I believe it ’ s a great sport for younger kids , teaching them not to not only work hard at what they love but also trust in their teammates and play as a unit ,” Sacco said .
ANN DONIO , JANE DONIO-ENSCOE AND MEREDITH HOWELL .
Field hockey has a long history in eighth graders in the town travel field Hammonton and it continues to grow . hockey program and we ’ ve had some The recent addition of a turf field at opportunities to have several practices Hammonton High School and another and even a couple of games on the new planned at the Boyer Avenue complex turf . It ’ s been a great experience watching the players practice on a turf field was seen by many in the local community as the next step in the sport ’ s development . Donio said .
and they are all having so much fun ,”
“ I think it ’ s amazing that Hammonton has a turf field now . Field hockey in place as the sport continues to grow ,
With a strong tradition of excellence
is a totally different sport on turf . The it ’ s easy to see what field hockey speed of play is much faster , and turf means to Hammonton . really provides players with the opportunity to learn different skills and de- like I was joining a rich history of suc-
“ When I came to [ HHS ] in 1997 , I felt
velop their play , both individually and cess , a tradition that came before me at as a team . Having a turf field is a wonderful step in the advancement of any Howell said .
both Hammonton and St . Joseph ,”
field hockey program and I ’ m so happy As for the rivalry , it ’ s still active and that Hammonton players will be able to remains alive in the minds of former experience playing on turf every day ,” players . Donio-Enscoe said .
“ The rivalry between St . Joe and
Her mother agreed .
Hammonton , in every sport , is huge . In
Having watched the sport develop field hockey especially , you ’ re playing over the years , I can ’ t emphasize against your best friends , cousins and enough how important a turf field is to club teammates , which some would the development of the game . I didn ’ t think would be difficult , but when I have the opportunity to play on turf but played made it so much fun . The competitiveness between the two teams now almost all college programs as well as many high schools use turf . The when I played was incredible . Camille game is so much faster and players Maimone , Paige Mortellite ( both from with great stickwork and finesse can Hammonton ) and I still talk about the really move the ball quickly down the rivalry to this day ,” Emily DeMarco field . I currently coach seventh and said .
EMILY DEMARCO HUGS HER DAD AND COACH , JOHN IN 2013 .
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