A new Field Hockey Club Team is competing in its inaugural season at Mars Area Middle School.

The team has played various exhibition games against teams from Fox Chapel, North Allegheny, Peters Township, Pine-Richland, and Pittsburgh Catholic schools.

“While we haven’t come away with a win yet, the girls are improving every single week and have really come together as a team,” says Lauren Billinger, head coach. “Most importantly, they’ve had a lot of fun and built a great foundation for the future.”

Team members include Mars Area Middle School eighth-graders Elisia DePaoli, Riley Edler, Becca McGrath, Mary Rhenish, Alena Salvini and Tessa Varner; and seventh-graders Evie Bova, Gianna Carlino, Ellie Kurnocik, Maci Kotula, Mia McCaskey, Sloane Plutko, Genevieve Ratcliffe and Kristin Sadhu. 

The goal for this year’s team is to grow interest in the program with the potential of starting a team at Mars Area High School next fall, says Billinger. The already established Mars Area Field Hockey youth program has more than 30 participants in Grades K-6 and will serve as a feeder program for future teams at the middle school and high school levels. 

For more information, e-mail [email protected].