IHSFHA Celebrates 50 Years of High School Hockey
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The Illinois High School Field Hockey Association (IHSFHA) held its 50th high school state field hockey championship on Saturday, with powerhouse New Trier High School defeating Lake Forest, 3-1,at Lake Forest High School’s beautiful West Campus. Glenbrook High School defeated Chicago Latin, 2-0, to place 3rd . Latin’s 4th place finish marked their first appearance in the final four. The packed stands and enthusiastic crowd celebrated the outstanding student athletes and an exciting sport that is growing and improving Illinois in their 50th year.
Lois Klatt, a former national official who played collegiately at West Chester State University (now known as West Chester University), was at the game. This was extra special as Klatt officiated the first IHSFHA State Championship fifty years ago, when Rockford West was crowned the first Illinois State Champion. Sally Goggin, USA Field Hockey National Development Director, was also at the games and caught up with Klatt. “The modification of rules has really helped the game,” commented Klatt. “It’s exciting to see how much the level of play continues to improve in Illinois and across the country, with more speed and better ball control. I think the ability to watch international play, such as the recent Paris 2024 Olympic Games, really helps athletes to improve.”
Dee Ragalie, a USA Field Hockey and Illinois Umpire, was sidelined with an ankle injury but in attendance to cheer on all the teams. “It’s a great accomplishment to have field hockey going for 50 years,” said Ragalie. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm for the sport in the state. Illinois is home to Northwestern University, currently the No. 1 ranked NCAA team in the country. We hope field hockey will continue to grow and thrive in Illinois.”
Goggin is advocating for continued growth in Illinois and across the country. “USA Field Hockey has resources to support high schools looking to add field hockey programs,” mentioned Goggin. “The IHSFHA is very welcoming and supportive of new programs. Additionally, there are two outstanding field hockey clubs in the Chicago area, Windy City and Rise, both offering trial opportunities and year-round play. Northwestern University, currently the top ranked team in the country, offers summer camps for young players and hosts home games where families can watch top-level play. Northwestern will be competing the Big Ten Championship, viewable on the B1G Plus and B1G Ten Networksl. Congrats to Illinois on 50 years of hockey!”
The New Trier team, coached by Brittany Romano, went undefeated in their regular season. Romano took over this year from legendary head coach Stephanie Nykaza, who retired at the end of the 2023 season and was at the game in support of her team. New Trier High School has a field hockey dynasty, winning their 17th State Championship (1976, 1979, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024).
Many Illinois field hockey players go on to compete in NCAA colleges. The IHSFHA All-Conference Players were acknowledged on Saturday. The All-State Players and Players of the Year will be announced in the coming weeks.
Thank you to Terry Dewing, IHSFHA President; Joe Kain, IHSFHA Athletic Director; and Dawn Pederson, IHSFHA Umpire Director. Field hockey is considered an emerging sport in Illinois, with 22 teams competing annually and more programs starting.
