Norfolk Academy field hockey earns state championship
NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk Academy’s (NA) varsity field hockey team went 23-0 in 2023, breezing to Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools (TCIS) regular season and postseason titles before earning the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) state championship in thrilling fashion.
In November, the Bulldogs defeated defending state champion Collegiate School 4-3 in the final in Richmond. Along the way, they knocked off several national powers, rising to the top ranking in the entire country in one publication. They outscored their opponents 191-12, including 58-3 in the postseason.
Accolades for this team could go on and on. It was the top team in The Virginian-Pilot’s weekly regional rankings throughout the season. Six student-athletes earned first-team all-state honors. Five seniors committed to playing the sport at the collegiate level, with several juniors soon to fill their shoes.
The Bulldogs’ TCIS championship was their 35th since 1984. The state title was their fifth in the past decade, with wins in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2021.
Coach Mary Werkheiser reported the makings of a great time early on, as NA was competitive with nationally elite programs in preseason practices, scrimmages and games. The Bulldogs had a good group of returning student-athletes and younger players eager to learn from them.
Max Field Hockey ranked NA as second in the nation. “The athletes earned that acclaim through their hard work and commitment to one another,” said Werkheiser. “It’s something the girls will remember for the rest of their lives.”
The field hockey championship was not NA’s lone fall success. Girls tennis finished second in the state, girls cross country finished fourth, and boys soccer advanced to the state semifinals. In addition, dozens of student-athletes earned all-state recognitions.
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