Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Question: Besides their Wilson High pride and their abilities to dazzle crowds by skillfully manipulating a stick, what do WHS Class of 1971 head twirler Rosalie “Ro” Amato Strouse and the 2022 Wilson High Field Hockey team have in common?

   

 

Answer:  They’ll all be at Blue Jay Stadium at Central Columbia High School in Bloomsburg this evening (Tuesday 11/8/22).

 

The 16-3-1 Warriors field hockey squad will be making the school’s first appearance ever in the PIAA Division 1A State Championship Tournament, the girls and fans embarking on the nearly two-hour bus trek to Bloomsburg to take on the host 17-4 Central Columbia Blue Jays at 5:00 pm on Central’s turf field.

Rosalie, on the other hand, will have a shorter trip to the stadium.  Coincidentally, the Class of ’71 alum happens to live literally down the street, just five minutes away from Central High. But the coincidences don’t end there. 

Ro was originally excited when she heard the Wilson girls would be playing in her adopted home town

“What time are they playing? I’d love to see them play!” she texted, before discouragingly realizing that she might have a conflict on Tuesday evening.  It turns out that Ro’s granddaughter, Ella, a standout senior holding midfielder on Central Columbia’s unbeaten girls’ soccer side was beginning her own quest for a PIAA state title on the same night.

Then . . . another coincidence.  Turns out Ella’s 17-0 District IV champ Blue Jays kickers had also earned first round home field advantage and would play in the same stadium, immediately following Wilson’s 5:00 p.m. field hockey showdown!  What are the odds?  Enjoy your customized doubleheader evening, Ro!

For Wilson’s steadfast field hockey side, a win tonight would extend its memorable season - the most successful in the program’s history - by at least one more match.  After running off 14 straight wins, Wilson stayed unbeaten with an exciting draw against Moravian Academy before suffering their only loss of the regular season to Palmerton and closing out the 2022 campaign at 15-1-1. 

Seeded second in the Colonial League championship playoffs, the Warriors dropped a 3-2 decision to Northwestern Lehigh in the semi-final.  In the PIAA District XI tournament, which is broken into separate divisions based on school size, Wilson was awarded the top seed in Class 1A and avenged its regular-season loss to Palmerton with a 2-1 semifinal win that clinched the Warrior’s first ever state tournament berth.  Northwestern, a 15-time state tournament participant and 1990 Class 2A state champion, once again blocked Wilson’s pursuit of a title, however, with a 3-0 shutout win in the title tilt.

Seeded on separate sides of the bracket, Wilson could only meet Northwestern again if both win three matches and advance to the championship on November 19.  The Warriors will have their work cut out for them, however, as all games in the state tournament will be played on artificial turf fields and Wilson is the only team which regularly trains and plays on grass.

In a Facebook post, Wilson coach Scott Horton noted, “Great to see small town Wilson Area High School named one of the top 16 field hockey schools in the state of Pennsylvania 1A.  Tough uphill climb from here but we are not done yet!  How can you not love the underdog competing against all turf teams who have been preparing on turf all year long and have more club players than our upperclassmen combined.”

Perhaps the support of ‘71’s head majorette can make the difference in Wilson’s first test tonight.

“I’ve spent a lot of time in those stands rooting for Central Columbia soccer teams,” Ro admitted.  “When my granddaughter pressed me on who I’d be rooting for tonight, I said I’d be neutral.” 

But we think a Warriors field hockey win and a Blue Jays soccer victory would be a real win-win result.  Coincidentally.