Wyoming Area has created the type of sustained excellence in field hockey that the team’s status as a contender on the conference, district and even state levels is practically a given each season.
The Lady Warriors must replace five graduated seniors who received all-state recognition last season, but they return seven starters from a team that won two titles and its first 20 games before falling 1-0 to Boiling Springs in the Pennnsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class A state semifinals.
“We expect this team to be very competitive this year and to have a great season,” Wyoming Area coach Bree Bednarski said.
The return of senior forward Lucia Campenni is one reason for optimism.
The Temple University commit was a first-team Class A all-state choice by the Pennsylvania State Field Hockey Coaches Association last season. She was second on the team in scoring with 26 goals and 11 assists.
Rylee Muniz is also back for her fourth season in goal.
The other returning starters are junior defenders Briana Dragwa and Shannon Kearns, sophomore forward Talia Pizano and sophomore midfielders Ella Campenni and Claudia Rehill.
Bednarski can also turn to a large group of players that received playing time last season, including some with occasional starts and regular spots in the rotation. They are: junior forward Kayla Karcutskie, junior goalie Adriana Fanti, junior defender Ella Keefer, sophomore midfielder Juliana Siani and sophomore forwards Nina Belza, Sophia Risley and Madison Doblovasky.
Wyoming Area is also building a deep roster.
The rest of the team includes: senior forward Andie Belles; senior midfielders Maddie Pencek and Justine Spess; junior defender Brianna Harry; sophomore forward Alexis Cook; sophomore defender Bailey Balent; sophomore midfielder Kaylee Janosov; freshman midfielder Easton Harris; freshman goalie Avianna Dennison; and freshmen defenders Briella Delucca, Briella Wallace and Gwyn Fox.
Things get interesting right away for the Lady Warriors. They open Saturday morning at home against Dallas in a non-league game between defending WVC champions. The WVC opener, also at home, is Sept. 8 against Lake-Lehman, the team Wyoming Area needed to rally to beat in overtime in the 2024 district final.
