2023 fall sports: Here are the YAIAA field hockey players to watch this season
Susquehannock field hockey ran the table last year, winning Division II and the league tournament. But the Warriors' offense ran out against New Oxford in the first round of the District 3 Class 2A tournament.
The Warriors are a prime example of most of the York-Adams teams this year. They return one or two key players, but their success will be determined by how quickly the players jell.
Division II is the only one returning its player of the year. Susky senior Lilly Wojcik led the league in scoring last year with 46 goals and five assists for 97 points. The Princeton commit had a busy offseason with the Team USA junior and senior programs and joins first-team all-star Rachel Stiffler to lead a Warriors team that scored 104 goals and held the opposition to 13.
York Suburban and Littlestown battled for runner-up in the division, and both return the talent to keep them in the mix for the division title again this year. First-team all-star Kamryn Bittle is back to lead Littlestown's defense. The Trojans are counting on senior Brynn Neidigh, an honorable mention all-star at midfield, to help with the offense while working to rebuild the defense.
"We don't have that many subs," York Suburban coach Denise Kreider said. "We want to build off of the girls' energy. We went to counties and districts last year, and want to do that again."
Central York coach Alexa Taylor said there is no time to sleep in Division I. Other coaches agree.
"Last year was a good indicator of how close the competition is," Red Lion coach Carol Gillmen said. "You have to look at one game at a time, you can't overlook anyone in the division."
The division race came down to Central, Dallastown and Red Lion last season. While all three are expected to contend again this year, Spring Grove is hoping to be part of that mix. Most of the Rockets' eight seniors started last year, including midfielder Kendall Smith, who was a first-team all-star.
"We have a lot of young talent, and the junior class is going to carry that weight," Spring Grove coach Julia Baer said. "A lot of them came off the bench last year and have experience."
Baer said the program's growth is leading to change, and with that comes confidence.
Speaking of confidence, Division III has plenty. More all-stars return in this division, and defending champion Biglerville leads the way with three first-teamers back this year: senior midfielder Hannah Naylor and juniors Ava Peterson (forward) and Claire Roberts (back).
Senior Ella Benzel leads Bermudian Springs' returning all-stars, and was joined by junior midfielder Aliza Staub on first team. Senior Kamryn Bittle heads Littlestown's all-stars.
YAIAA fall sports central: Daily schedules, scores, stats and standings
YAIAA field hockey players to watch
Chloe Acworth, Dover, sr.
Sam Adkins, South Western, so.
Brooke Altland, Dallastown, sr.
Emma Amereihn, York Tech, sr.
Kayln Arnold, South Western, sr.
Reagan Bailey, Dallastown, so.
Ava Baker, Spring Grove, jr.
Olivia Bateman, South Western, so.
Ivy Bechtel, Spring Grove, so.
Ella Benzel, Bermudian Springs, sr.
Layla Binko, Red Lion, so.
Kamryn Bittle, Littlestown, sr.
Taylor Botterbusch, Bermudian Springs, sr.
Avery Botts, Northeastern, sr.
Grace Bramble, York Suburban, jr.
Madisyn Burchett, Red Lion, so.
Gabby Campbell, York Suburban, jr.
Meghan Campbell, York Tech, sr.
Margo Channell, Kennard-Dale, sr.
Peyton Conover, Hanover, sr.
Rowan Conover, Spring Grove, jr.
Evelynn D’Arrigo, Kennard-Dale, so.
Cassidy Dietz, Kennard-Dale, sr.
Kaelyn Eaches, Red Lion, jr.
Andrea Edwards, South Western, jr.
Ryan Engleman, Central York, jr.
Maddie Farace, Fairfield, jr.
Poppy Fornoff, Kennard-Dale, jr.
Audra Freil, South Western, sr.
Dellaney Gass, Fairfield, jr.
Reagan Gass, Fairfield, fr.
Hazel Gembe, Bermudian Springs, sr.
Charlotte Grove, Red Lion, sr.
Aubrie Hatfield, York Tech, sr.
Jennah Hershberger, Central York, jr.
Haleigh Hinshaw, Kennard-Dale, jr.
Kyleigh Hinson, Spring Grove, jr.
Jenna Hodgkinson, Red Lion, sr.
Hallie Hornback, Hanover, sr.
Paige Howard, West York, jr.
Hailey Johnson, Red Lion, sr.
Savannah Kahler, Fairfield, jr.
Danielle Kapsak, Dallastown, sr.
Jocelyn Keen, Central York, sr.
Naige' Kennedy, York Tech, sr.
Laken Kinard, York Suburban, sr.
Grace Koloras, York Suburban, sr.
Bella Kozack, Fairfield, jr.
Erin Laird, Fairfield, jr.
Zoe Lehker, South Western, sr.
Taryn Liester, Red Lion, jr.
Kelbie Linebaugh, New Oxford, sr.
Natalie Martin, York Suburban, fr.
Brooke Mathena, Kennard-Dale, jr.
Nena Menard, Dover, sr.
Kelsey McClintock, Littlestown, sr.
Haley McCulley, Dallastown, jr.
Kylie Mirabile, Fairfield, sr.
Finley Mummert, Hanover, jr.
Jacy Mummert, Central York, jr.
Amelia Myers, West York, sr.
Hannah Myers, Fairfield, jr.
Millie Nakielny, Hanover, sr.
Hannah Naylor, Biglerville, sr.
Jillian Neiderer, South Western, so.
Brynn Neidigh, York Suburban, sr.
Molly Nightingale, Fairfield, sr.
Lilly Novotny, Fairfield, fr.
Paige Pantano, Dallastown, jr.
Marissa Parker, York Tech, sr.
Ava Peterson, Biglerville, jr.
Mya Plank, Hanover, sr.
Avery Reed, South Western, jr.
Teaghen Rieder, Dallastown, sr.
Claire Roberts, Biglerville, jr.
Emma Rodgers, Fairfield, jr.
Gabrielle Rogerson, Biglerville, jr.
Lexi Sabold, Dallastown, jr.
Julia Saylor, West York, jr.
Noa Schneider, Kennard-Dale, sr.
Sophie Schneider, Central York, sr.
Mackenzie Schrack, Red Lion, jr.
Anna Scott, Central York, sr.
Morgan Shealer, York Suburban, sr.
Finley Smith, York Suburban, sr.
Kendall Smith, Spring Grove, sr.
Emma Smyser, Central York, sr.
Joelle Sprunger, York Tech (from York Catholic), fr.
Aliza Staub, Bermudian Springs, jr.
Alessandra Stevens, South Western, jr.
Rachel Stiffler, Susquehannock, sr.
Yasmine Stover, York Tech, sr.
Bella Thompson, Red Lion, jr.
Liv Thompson, Red Lion, fr.
Molly Townsley, Eastern York, sr.
Julia Turosinski, Red Lion, sr.
Livy Waltrup, Kennard-Dale, sr.
Kierney Weigle, Biglerville, jr.
Sydney Winpigler, New Oxford, sr.
Evvie Wilbur, Red Lion, sr.
Alyssa Wiles, Fairfield, sr.
Lilly Wojcik, Susquehannock, sr.
2023 fall sports: Champions return to defend in golf, girls' tennis and cross country
Shelly Stallsmith covers York-Adams high school sports for GameTimePA and the USAToday Network. Connect with her by email mstallsmith@ydr.com or on Twitter @ShelStallsmith.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: YAIAA field hockey players have high expectations for 2023
