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RYE, N.Y. -- Catherine Ann Gray is hoping to do the same thing her older sister, Caroline, did in her senior, lead the Holy Child field hockey team to a New York State Independent Schools title. Gray watched from the stands that November day in 2008 when Holy Child beat archrival Rye Country Day School in strokes. Caroline Gray scored a goal during the game.
After watching that and seeing the team spirit and intensity, I knew thats what I wanted to do when I was a senior, said Gray, a tri-captain along with classmates Helen Brosnan and Jillian Murphy.
Holy Child reached the Independent Schools state final last year for the third time during the tenure of coach Barbara Lorys and assistant coach Cheryl OShea.
Every year Ive been here, Holy Child has been in either the state semis or in the state championship, said Gray, a Harrison resident. We have become a very focused group of girls.
In its third day of practice Wednesday, Holy Child was running through drills and intra-squad scrimmages. Holy Child will be led by its senior captains, who have grown up together in the program, beginning with joining the junior varsity team as freshmen.
I love playing with them, said Brosnan, a Larchmont resident. We have been really good friends, beginning with preseason when we were freshmen. That enhanced our experience of playing together.
The senior class has contributed to Holy Childs rise as a perennial power in the state and the Fairchester Athletic Association, the league it competes in during the regular season.
Field hockey has become such a popular sport at Holy Child and I have a sense of pride in playing, Bresnan said. We now have such a good reputation in the county and among the other private schools that girls want to be a part of it.
The girls who are hoping to make the varsity team are showing the returnees they have what it takes. You can see how determined these girls are to work hard, Gray said. They are intense and motivated. They have grown so much as field hockey players.
Once the varsity team is set, Brosnan and her veteran teammates are ready to go.
I remember last year, after the state final, one of the parents of a then senior said to me, Next year you are going to go all the way and you are going win it. Brosnan said. We are ready and anxious this year to take it back.
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