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Mid-Atlantic Field Hockey Camp swings into Cape state park

The Mid-Atlantic Field Hockey Camp made its 2022 appearance at Cape Henlopen State Park July 17-21. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
July 24, 2022

Marking its 45th year at Cape Henlopen State Park, the 2022 Mid-Atlantic Field Hockey Camp held its annual appearance with a full complement of campers, counselors and staff to make the July 17-21 event a fun-filled learning experience.

More than 140 campers of all skill levels from Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland and even Belgium participated in four full days of busy sessions, working on skills such as passing, ball control, footwork, shooting, goal tending, offensive and defensive strategy, and scrimmaging. 

The camp is led by Frannie Slabonik, a retired physical education teacher and field hockey coach in the Eastern Lebanon County School District in Myerstown, Pa. The camp has been her summer home since 1980; she has been a camper, junior counselor, coach, assistant director, and now camp director and owner for the past 18 years.

Her counselors include high school coaches, and college players and coaches. They teach the finer points of field hockey and make sure the campers have a positive and enjoyable experience.

Coach Carenna Neely is visiting the camp this year as a staff member and counselor. Neely started REN Hockey, a nonprofit organization using hockey as a tool for social development, in the Khayelitsha township of the Western Cape, South Africa, in 2018. She is now now making plans to rebuild the program off-grid in the rural Eastern Cape of South Africa. REN Off-Grid aims to impact communities by ensuring everyone has enough to eat, gets enough exercise and education, and knows that they are enough. Anyone with questions or who wants to get involved can find REN Off-Grid on Facebook or email renoffgrid@gmail.com.

The second session for the Mid-Atlantic Field Hockey Camp runs July 24-28.

For more information, go to midatlanticfieldhockey.com.

 

Senior staff for the camp are in back (l-r) Erin Moore, Carenna Neely, Sarah Humphries, Lori Miller, Cathy Jackson, Melissa Moritsch, Frannie Slabonik, Kathleen Kenney and Christine Selover. In front are Tori Tredinnick, Carly Reid, Morgan Handwerger and Christy Wallace.
The Mid-Atlantic junior counselors are (l-r) Reese Hardman, Mary Cate Anson, Hannah Huffman, Maggie Spadafora, Sommer Dorman, Jordyn Travis, Lexie Frank, Abby Brainard, Jenna Angstadt, Addy Araneo and Maddie Blakeslee.
Counselors and staff are in back (l-r) Addy Araneo, Abby Brainard, Maddie Blakeslee, Erin Moore, Peg Wilfong, Kathy Shappell, Carenna Neely, Sarah Humphries, Lori Miller, Cathy Jackson, Melissa Moritsch, Christine Selover, Frannie Slabonik, Mary Cate Anson, Reese Hardman and Hannah Hardman. In front are Jordyn Travis, Lexie Frank, Sommer Dorman, Tori Tredinnick, Carly Reid, Morgan Handwerger, Christy Wallace, Maggie Spadafora and Jenna Angstadt.
Camp field hockey director Melissa Moritsch reviews the session before the campers go to stations.
Camp junior counselor Sommer Dorman air dribbles before a passing drill.
Carenna Neely, left, of REN Hockey and Mid-Atlantic owner Frannie Slabonik share a moment at the camp.
The Mid-Atlantic staff, counselors and campers get together for a group photo.
Cassandra Bruno slams the ball during a driving drill.
Kate Gillin takes a drive during a hitting drill.
Reagan Goane, left, and her friend Kate Hanrahan enjoy the camp experience.
Goalie Evy Guzzio works on a clearing kick.
Liz Hicks gets excited about the camp.
Carly Reid takes a drive in a long-hit contest.
Cathy Jackson takes a drive as coach Maggie Spadafora looks on.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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