Alexa's Field Hockey Coaches

I was off of work on 10/15/19.  It's because the 288th day of 2019 was the Senior Day for Collingswood Field Hockey and I did not want to risk being late.  So we headed to Knight Park and we made it through the ceremonies with only a few tears, we watched an 8-0 victory, Alexa got a goal off of a corner!, and then we had a really nice celebration with speeches from the Juniors for the Seniors (more tears, a lot of tears).  And as I was sitting there watching it all, I could not help but think how much gratitude I have for Alexa's Field Hockey Coaches through the years.  Starting with her unofficial coaches, but the major inspiration for her playing the sport (she was a soccer player, and I thought that would be her Fall sport), Ashley and Jackie Walters.  They got her interested in the game and gave her familial role models to aspire to.  Then, her first School Coach in the 5th grade at OPS, Miss Shernoff (now Tosh).  So lucky that OPS allowed 5th graders to play up on the Middle School team and so thankful that Miss Shernoff allowed Alexa to grow as a player and even start some games by the end of the season.  Then the move to Colls Middle School where both Miss Shernoff and Mrs. Adams coached her for 6th, 7th and 8th grade.  It was fun to see her confidence grow as she was mentored amazingly by her MS coaches.  And her travel coaches, Therese Bernardo and Karen Draper, who encouraged her and honed her skills as a member of the Badgers.  So glad we found that program.  There were Futures coaches along the way, I do not know their names or even who they are, but the Futures Program definitely helped in Alexa's development.  And, lastly, her High School Coach Mrs. Val Dayton.  From Freshman Year to being a Captain in her Senior Year, Val has mentored and taught Alexa and made her into the confident player she is now.  I love watching her on the field, with her play and her leadership and her camaraderie.  And of course it was fun seeing her score today!  It makes me also so thankful that our schools have excellence in academics, but also athletics and the arts.  It makes the students so well-rounded and there are so many life and leadership lessons that are learned from playing on a team sport.  I know Alexa will never forger her time playing Field Hockey and neither will I.  And I will always be eternally grateful for her coaches and all who helped her along the way.