Webster Dictionary defines dynasty as “a powerful group or family that maintains its position for a considerable period or time.” In the sports world a team enters the dynasty discussion after it wins three or four championships. By any definition the Walpole High School field hockey team, with ten state championships in the last twenty-nine years, qualifies as a dynasty. While every year Walpole graduates many of the top players in the state, Walpole’s tradition dictates that the Pokers do not rebuild–they reload.
Throughout the years Walpole has graduated countless division one, two, and three college field hockey players. The Porkers were also represented at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by Dina Rizzo, who graduated Walpole High School in 1998, as a member of the USA women’s field hockey team. Past players, such as Rizzo, inspire the girls on this years team to follow in her footsteps of winning a state championship, in addition to the extra incentive to end the drought of state championship victories by the Porkers.
This has been one of the longest stretches of time in the Porker’s history without having won a Massachusetts State Championship, as it has been five years since the last title victory. But the team hopes to change that this season. The Porkers’ past success motivates this year’s team to accomplish equivalent achievements. “Everyone on the team shares the common goal of winning the state championship. We all push each other during practice so that we are ready for the post-season” said senior Captain Michaela Tosone. This is extremely important to ensure that the team is prepared for the more challenging games later in the season.
Hopes are high as the Porkers handily won their first four games. They have scored 28 goals and have zero goals against in these games versus Natick, Newton North, Wellesly, and Brookline. “The Bay State League really doesn’t challenge us that much, so the games against Andover, Weston, and Notre Dame of Worcester are games we look forward to. They will also show us where we stand against good competition” said Tosone. Due to the lack of competition in a majority of the teams in the Bay State league, their games against teams from other leagues will be the most difficult.
The biggest regular season test for the Porkers will come Columbus Day weekend when they face Andover, the team who defeated them two years ago in double-overtime of the Eastern Mass Finals. Andover went on to win the State Championship that same year, and repeated with another state title last year. “Andover is going to be one of our toughest games,” explains senior Captain Holly Norberg, “They pose one of the biggest threat to our goal of an undefeated season.” The game will be a true indicator as to how the Porkers stand heading into the state tournament, where the level of play is much higher than most of which in the Bay State League.
As the season progresses, the Porkers will continue working toward their common goal of winning a state championship and ending a streak of post-season losses.
