Janelle Burger has watched as her Central Dauphin field hockey team has grown into District 3-AAA and PIAA contenders.
On Wednesday, she watched as six Ram players who have been very influential in that growth signed their Letters of Intent to go to Division I and II college programs.
Katie Foran (Temple), Aggie Sutherland (New Hampshire), Molly Mariano (Albany) and Megan Wenrich (Lock Haven) are all headed to Division I schools in the fall.
Kiersten Smith and Margaret Thorwart will be teammates at Division II Millersville.
“This senior class continued what the classes before them did,” Burger said. “They were always doing things well consistently, and led by example.”
Leading, by example and performance, those seniors helped guide the Rams to the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division title, the Mid-Penn and District 3-AAA finals and the PIAA quarterfinals.
“It was really nice getting to sign with all of my teammates and I'm really proud of all of them,” Foran said.
Foran, a Big 11 first team forward, scored 24 goals and had 24 assists this past season. Next season, she will be joining Central Dauphin alum Amber Youtz at Temple.
“It's not far from home, and the coaches and players were very welcoming,” Foran said.
The Owls, who were 12-9 last season, have built up a mini-midstate all star team. In addition to Foran, Cumberland Valley's Elle Hempt signed to go to Temple. Already there are Youtz, Cumberland Valley grad Laurent Hunt, Cedar Crest grad Hannah Whitman and Annville-Cleona grad Tricia Light.
Foran said that she hopes to do more than just score goals for the Owls.
“I hope that I can just become a better defensive player,” Foran said. “Maybe I can grow stronger and stronger each year in their program.”
Sutherland, a Big 11 first-team midfielder, said she felt like she fit on campus and into the field hockey program right away at New Hampshire.
“When I went down there, I liked the coaches and teammates, and the feel of the whole school,” said Sutherland. “I also liked the style of play, the way they play the game.”
Sutherland had 15 goals and 10 assists last fall.
“I want to be a better all-around player with passing, and my knowledge of the game,” Sutherland said.
In 2012, New Hampshire was 12-8.
Mariano, a forward, was choosing between Albany and Syracuse before she chose to go the New York capital.
“Things just felt right at Albany,” Mariano said. “It's really nice, really comforting.”
Mariano had nine goals and 17 assists last year. Albany had a 13-8 record.
Wenrich said that she liked the atmosphere at Lock Haven.
“I like their field and the whole area, just being in the middle of all the trees,” Wenrich said.
Wenrich, a midfielder, had two goals and four assists last year. Lock Haven went 11-9 last fall.
Megan Thorwart, a midfielder, and Kiersten Smith, a back, also signed with a winning program. Millersville was 14-7 last season.
But it was not just the talent of this class that stood out to Burger. It was their personality. They asked to have a costume-party themed practice on Halloween, which Berger allowed as a reward for still playing that deep into the post-season.
“It was just one of those things that showed they have great personalities and are great individuals, along with being great athletes,” Burger said.
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