For the first time ever, MAX Field Hockey recognizes a top player at the state level heading into the season. The following are our selections for the 2017 Preseason High School State Players of the Year!
CALIFORNIA
KATHRYN PETERSON
Serra High School (CA)
Senior – Forward
The Top 10 ranked senior is a 1st Team All-San Diego Section selection and should shine this year for the #1 West/Mid-West Conquistadors with the graduation of Megan Rodgers (Cal) and Meghan Schneider (Louisville)- both also Top 10 ranked players.
COLORADO
EMMA DOMICH
Kent Denver School
Senior – Midfield
The senior play-maker is the reigning Colorado State Player of the Year and was a Harrow/NFHCA West All-Region selection last season. She will be relied on to lead Kent Denver in their quest for another State Championship.
CONNECTICUT
KATIE ELDERS
Darien High School
Junior – Midfield
Dartmouth – Lacrosse
Elders led the Blue Wave in scoring (10 goals, 9 assists) as a sophomore en route to a shared Class L State Title. She was a First Team All-State selection and is the reigning Hearst Connecticut Media Field Hockey MVP.
DELAWARE
PEYTON KEMP
Delmar High School
Senior – Forward
The reigning Delaware State Player of the Year is back for her senior season. A second Team All-American last Fall, Kemp will be a force in Delmar’s fight for the first ever Division II State Championship.
ILLINOIS
AMBER BODE
Glenbard West High School
Junior – Midfield
The center midfielder was a West/Mid-West All-Region and First Team All-State selection in 2016 after completing a 19 goal and 16 assist sophomore campaign and helping Glenbard West to a 3rd place finish in the state.
KENTUCKY
JACQUELYN WILKINS
Christian Academy of Louisville
Senior – Forward
The 3x Kentucky All-State selection is a force for a CAL team who has already achieved a first this season under her senior leadership- an Apple Tournament Championship. Wilkins will be a big factor in whether the Centurions can get past the State Semifinals this year.
MAINE
AUTUMN LITTLEFIELD
Messalonskee High School
Junior – Midfield
Littlefield returns for her junior campaign as the reigning KVAC Class A Player of the Year and Morning Sentinel Player of the Year. She will be a key contributor in Messalonskee’s quest for a Class A State title.
MARYLAND
MARGOT LAWN
Archbishop Spalding High School
Junior – Forward
A Third Team All-American in 2016, Lawn was the IAAM A Conference’s leading scorer with 28 goals and 5 assists as a sophomore. She will be a huge factor in Spalding’s quest for a championship in a conference that is seeing growing parity.
MASSACHUSETTS
SKYLER CARON
The Governor’s Academy
Senior – Midfield
A 1st Team-All American in 2016, Caron has been dominating the ISL and NEPSAC B Conference for years and we expect nothing less in her senior campaign. The center midfielder will look to lead a talented GA team in it’s quest to defend their B title.
MICHIGAN
MINNA TREMONTI
Huron High School
Junior – Midfield
The lone High School player from Michigan to be selected to Junior National Camp this summer, Tremonti is a returning Division I First Team All-State selection. Huron is looking to be a top contender this season and Tremonti will be a big contributor.
MISSOURI
MEGHAN CONROY
Lafayette High School
Senior – Midfield
Conroy was a First Team All-Metro and All-Conference selection as a junior and is looking incredibly strong early on. The senior captain has her Lafayette squad off to an 8-0-2 start and at the top of the conference standings with her 15 goals and 8 assists.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
JOSIE VARNEY
St. Paul’s School
Junior – Midfield
Although actually from the state of Maine, Varney has made her mark in New Hampshire playing for St. Paul’s School. The junior was a First Team All-American in 2016 and will look to help St. Paul’s rebound after a disappointing loss in the first round of the NEPSAC A Tournament last year.
NEW JERSEY
KARA HECK
Eastern Regional High School
Sophomore – Forward
Selected as a Second Team All-American last year as a freshmen, Heck didn’t waste any time making her mark on the High School scene. She led the state of New Jersey in goals with 55 and also added 17 assists last year in her first year with the Vikings. This year should be no different.
NEW YORK
KELSEY MCCRUDDEN
Lakeland High School
Senior – Midfield
McCrudden steps in as the next big leader of the top-ranked Lakeland squad. The senior captain and All-State returner is already off to a strong offensive start with 9 goals and 6 assists through the Hornets first 5 games.
NORTH CAROLINA
MEGAN FROST
Myers Park High School
Junior – Forward
Arguably the most talented player in the state, Frost returns for her junior year coming off of an All-Region and All-State sophomore campaign in which she led Myers Park to a NCFHA State Championship.
OHIO
SARAH CHARLEY
Thomas Worthington High School
Junior – Forward
A top scoring threat for the top ranked team in Ohio, Charley was an NFHCA and MAX Field Hockey All-Region selection as a sophomore. She will look to lead the Cardinals to back-to-back State Championships this Fall.
PENNSYLVANIA
MACKENZIE ALLESSIE
Donegal High School
Junior – Forward
Arguably the best goal scorer in the state and maybe the country right now, Allessie is coming off a Second Team All-American sophomore campaign in which she scored 76 goals and added 40 assists en route to Donegal’s AA State Championship. Through #1 ranked Donegal’s first 5 games, she already has 2 hat tricks and 3 4-goal games.
RHODE ISLAND
KARI BUONANNO
Moses Brown School
Junior – Midfield
Princeton Lacrosse
Buonanno was a 1st Team All-State and Division I All-Tournament selection as a sophomore, finishing with 6 goals and 8 assists in the Quakers’ semifinal finish. The Princeton lacrosse commit returns as one of the states most dangerous all-around field hockey players.
TEXAS/OKLAHOMA
CAROLINE HANAN
The Kinkaid School
Senior – Midfield
Hanan had an impressive 1st Team All-American junior campaign in which she finished with 14 goals and 25 assists. The All-SPC midfielder will look to lead Kinkaid back towards the top of the SPC this Fall.
VERMONT
JENNA PULEO
Essex High School
Senior – Forward
Fresh off a 3rd Team All-American junior campaign, Puleo is the reigning Vermont State Player of the Year. She will look to lead Essex back to the top of the ranks past a tough South Burlington squad and towards another state championship before she graduates.
VIRGINIA
PEYTON TOLLAKSEN
Great Bridge High School
Senior – Midfield
Tollaksen claimed just about every Player of the Year award she could last year as she led Great Bridge to a perfect 22-0 season and a 4A State Championship. She was MAX Field Hockey’s 2016 Mid-Atlantic Region Player of the Year, the Virginia State 4A Player of the Year, and the All-Tidewater Player of the Year. We expect great things from her again in her final season.
WISCONSIN
LIESE WAREHAM
Brookfield Academy
Senior – Midfield
The All-Conference goal scorer led Brookfield to a Wisconsin State Championship in 2016, the program’s first since 1999.
