Two Umpires & Two Technical Staff to Represent USA at 2024 Pan American Challenge

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Field Hockey is excited to announce that four USA representatives have been selected as umpires and technical staff for the upcoming 2024 Pan American Challenge.

Lurah Hess and Ridge Bair will attend the men’s tournament, happening September 6 to 14, 2024, at the Andres Avelino Caceres Sports Complex in Lima, Peru. Hess has been appointed to the role of technical delegate, while Bair is an umpire.

Rene Zelkin and Erika Barbera will attend the women’s edition, slated for September 20 to 28, 2024, in Hamilton, Bermuda. Veteran Zelkin will be a technical officer, while Barbera will be making her international umpire debut.

Hess has been a technical official, judge or tournament director for more than 10 years. Her most recent appointments include the women’s 2024 FIH Hockey Nations Cup (technical delegate), 2023 Pan American Cup (technical official), and 2023-24 FIH Hockey Pro League (match manager). Currently appointed to the Leading Panel for technical officials, this will be Hess’ fourth time representing USA as a tournament’s technical delegate.

“I'm excited to return for my third tournament in Peru – and my second Pan American Challenge in Lima. Lima has a beautiful hockey venue built for the 2019 Pan American Games. The Challenge is the last chance for the participating teams to qualify for the 2025 Pan American Cup so the competition should be full of passion! I'm grateful for the resources and people that support technical officiating development and opportunities in the USA – especially those at USA Field Hockey and Junior Premier Hockey.  Their ongoing encouragement is an important piece to being ready for any appointment.”

Bair returns to umpire another Pan American event after taking a brief hiatus. He was an umpire at the 2021 Junior Pan American Championship (JPAC) and 2021 Indoor Pan American Cup (IPAC), and most recently officiated indoor test matches between Canada and the U.S. Men’s National Indoor Team at the University of Toronto in March 2023. Bair is a long-time USA Field Hockey and NCAA Umpire and was appointed to the NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship team in 2021.

“I am very excited to umpire at the Pan American Challenge in Lima. I always enjoy the opportunity to grow as an umpire at these events. I’d like to say a huge thank you to USA Field Hockey and everyone who has supported me along the way.”

Like Hess, Zelkin is a staple in the world of international technical officiating, also sitting on the Outdoor Technical Officials Leading Panel. She most recently served as the technical delegate at the 2024 JPAC in Surrey, Canada this past summer, but other recent appointments include the 2024 FIH Hockey5s World Cup in Muscat, Oman (technical official) and 2023 Hockey5s Pan American Cup in Kingston, Jamaica (technical delegate). Zelkin also served as a judge at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and technical official at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“It is an extreme honor to represent USA at the Pan American Challenge in Bermuda as a technical official. As this is a qualifier for the Pan American Cup next year, the competition stakes are high for all teams which creates an exciting environment for hockey. I look forward to working with the officials team and sharing my technical officiating experience and knowledge. It is my passion to educate the next level of officials in PAHF and support them in their journey as an official.”

Barbera is stepping onto the international scene after graduating from Kutztown University in May 2024. She played field hockey at school and at the club level from grades 7 to 12 before going on to play at Kutztown, where she later became a student assistant coach. Having first picked up a whistle in 2022, Erika has had a breakthrough season in 2024, umpiring the championship game at three major events – Junior Premier Outdoor League (JPOL) Elite, U-19 National Club Championship, and the U-18 Nexus Championship.

"I am very excited and honored to be given this opportunity to go to my first international tournament. I am excited to learn and grow at the Women’s Pan American Challenge. I’d like to thank those who have believed in me and supported me on my journey thus far."

 

"The Pan American Challenge events are always very important ones on the regional calendar - for the teams involved as well as for the officials who often find themselves at different stages of their personal journeys," said Sean Rapaport, USA Field Hockey’s Director of Umpiring. "Lurah and Rene bring their many years of experience at the highest levels of the game to the technical officiating teams, sharing a wealth of knowledge with their colleagues. On the field, Ridge makes a welcome return to the international stage, while Erika gets her first taste of international level play as just reward for excellent, consistent showings early in her career. We wish them all well as they represent USA Field Hockey in Peru and Bermuda."