Andres Huenneke
Staff Writer
Among ACHS’s fall sports, field hockey and golf are lesser-known, yet they offer a lot to people.
The ACHS field hockey team competes in the regional high school conference. Though the sport is more underground than mainstream sports like football and basketball, it nevertheless offers a similar level of competition.
“People don’t grow up with it as much as they grow up with soccer in our area, so [it creates the challenge of] learning something new at an older age,” said senior Maddi Crowe. “It is definitely a really big challenge.”
Field hockey is a non-contact sport played with sticks and small balls. The aim is to score into the opposing team’s goal using the ball and the field hockey stick. But according to players, the sport itself isn’t the only appealing thing about it. “[On the] team, everyone is really close, and it’s really fun and enjoyable,” said Betty Amron, a senior who also plays on varsity. “The highlight of my year is hanging out with friends that are also teammates.”
The field hockey team has a record of 8-1 on the season and they next play against Lake Braddock on September 28.
The golf team is another competitive team at ACHS. The co-ed team is made up of students of all genders who play and compete together in a mixed setting at various golf facilities. Though all team members attend practices, only some compete. “The top 6 on the team— and some after top 6— play in matches against other teams,” said junior Lia Fitzgerald, who has been playing golf for nine years and has played on the AC team since sophomore year.
Golf is organized into three rounds with two players on the course at a time. “The first two will tee off with two players from the other team, then the second group, and then the third. In the end, whoever has the lowest score is the winner,” said Fitzgerald.
Similar to field hockey, ACHS golfers are all friends and have a community together. “My favorite things about the team are hanging out with my friends and getting to play golf with my friends who also play golf,” Fitzgerald said.
But according to Fitzgerald, the positives don’t stop there. “You get to learn a sport that you can continue to play throughout your entire life. [It’s a sport that is] timeless and well-known,” she said.
Golf continues to compete into the fall season, and their next game is September 27 at Laurel Hill golf course.
Featured image courtesy of Lauren Barkume
