Jun 09

Bodimeade names US National and Development Squads

COLORADO SPRINGS, C.O. – Head Coach Lee Bodimeade has announced the 2012 U.S. Women’s National and Development Squads concluding the Women’s National Championship in College Park, MD. Overall, 84 athletes from across the nation participated in the event that commenced on June 1. Athletes competed in five matches over the course of eight days as the U.S. Women’s coaching staff, led by Bodimeade, evaluated the field. 

“I have been really impressed with the standard and elevation and the continual upward growth pattern we have seen since we incorporating the National Championships,” said Bodimeade. “To see the new players coming into the tournament at a much higher level of skill is showing us we are heading down the right track.” 

Joining the U.S. National Squad are four women who were named to the U.S. Development Squad following this event last year. Alesha Widdall (Whitney Point, NY), Emily Wold (Freehold, NJ), Stephanie Fee (Virginia Beach, VA) and Kelsey Kolojejchick (Larksville, PA) impressed the coaches enough to earn one of the highly coveted spots on the U.S. National Squad. 

As a sophomore, Kolojejchick led the University of North Carolina with 15 goals and 38 points. Kolojejchick competed with the U.S. National Team during a series against Australia in Chula Vista, CA in January and then traveled with the U.S. Team to Terressa, Spain for a 3-Nations Tournament in February. Kolojejchick will enter her final season with the Tar Heels this fall. 

Widdall recently completed her collegiate career at the University of Massachusetts. She played with the U.S. Junior National Squad at the Junior World Cup in Boston in 2009 and has been training with the National Team in Chula Vista, CA during this Olympic year. 

“Kolojejchick and Widdall have been a part of the Olympic preparations in the Central Training Program so their progression from the Development Squad to the National Squad is just a reward for their hard work in becoming better hockey players,” said Bodimeade.

Wold’s skills excited the U.S. coaching staff, as Freehold High School senior and the youngest player at the tournament proved she could compete with the best field hockey athletes in the country. Wold will join Kolojejchick on the field in Chapel Hill, NC this fall.

“Being a high school athlete and the skills Emily possesses is really exciting,” said Bodimeade. “We saw her play last year and were excited with what she was able to do and to back it up with periods of dominance here, at this level, and at her age is really quite exciting.” 

In a recent interview, Fee stated, "Being on the National Team would be the fulfillment of my dreams since I was a little girl.” This afternoon, Fee’s dreams came true. Starting 76 games during her four year career with the Duke Blue Devils, Fee has anchored the backline while totaling 15 assists.

“Stephanie Fee has proven to us, again, that she has been able to elevate her game and warrants selection in the National Squad,” said Bodimeade.  

The four newly named players will join 23 returning National Team players on the U.S. Squad. In addition, Bodimeade has selected 15 athletes to the 2012 U.S. Development Squad.  

“We need to develop depth and have a succession plan for athletes that may turn over,” said Bodimeade. “After the Games there will be athletes that retire, athletes that want to have time away, and athletes that want to do other things. We want to make sure we have players, not just on the National Squad but also on the Development Squad that can be called in and get their opportunity at the highest level. To be on the Development Squad could be a very important phase in an athletes career given the unknown scenarios post Olympics.” 

On Monday, the 16 athletes that will represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games this summer will be announced, with subject to approval from the United States Olympic Committee board of directors. A teleconference will follow the announcement at 12pm MT. For further details, please contact Ashley Meunier, ameunier@usafieldhockey.com. 

The following athletes have been named to the 2012 U.S. Women’s National Squad: 

Torrie Albini (Escondido, CA), Kayla Bashore Smedley (Shoemakersville, PA), Michelle Cesan (New Vernon, NJ), Lauren Crandall (Doylestown, PA), Rachel Dawson (Berlin, NJ), Katelyn Falgowski (Landenberg, PA), Maren Langford (Lewes, DE), Jesse Gey (Green Lane, PA), Melissa Gonzalez (Mohegan Lake, NY), Michelle Kasold (Chapel Hill, NC), Jaclyn Kintzer (Robesonia, Pa), Claire Laubach (Centreville, VA), Caroline Nichols (Virginia Beach, VA), Katie O’Donnell (Blue Bell, PA), Lauren Pfeiffer (Mt. Laurel, NJ), Julia Reinprecht (Perkasie, PA), Katie Reinprecht (Perkasie, PA), Paige Selenski (Shavertown, PA), Kathleen Sharkey (Moosic, PA), Keli Smith Puzo (Selinsgrove, Pa), Amy Swensen (Grantville, Pa), Shannon Taylor (Midlothian, VA), Michelle Vittese (Cherry Hill, NJ), Alesha Widdall (Whitney Point, NY), Emily Wold (Freehold, NJ), Stephanie Fee (Virginia Beach, VA), Kelsey Kolojejchick (Larksville, PA)

The following athletes have been named to the 2012 U.S. Women’s Development Squad: 

Amanda Fleischut (Doylestown, Pa), Anna Zarkoski (Trooper, Pa), Caitlyn Van Sickle (Wilmington, DE), Christy Longacre (Bethlehem, Pa), Dani Hemeon (Gilroy, CA), Jill Witmer (Lancaster, Pa), Katelyn Smither (Suffolk, VA), Kathleen McGraw (Iowa City, IA), Laura Gebhart (Mount Joy, Pa), Marta Malmberg (Marathon, NY), Meghan Beamesderfer (Iowa City, IA), Meghan Dawson (Berlin, NJ), Rayell Heistand (Hamburg, Pa), Taylor Rhae (Virginia Beach, VA), Teresa Benvenuti (Morristown, NJ)