Credit: Guillaume Didelet / Unsplash.com
Teams are forming now to work toward the 2028 LA-based Olympics
Three local girls will take their field hockey skills to a national level this winter with the hopes of possibly heading to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 in four short years.
U.S.A. Field Hockey recently announced its junior women’s national team players for the 2024-25 season, and three local players have earned the distinction. Teams for those ages under 16, 18, and 21, designated with sports-familiar terms U-16, U-18, and U-21, have included many other names hailing from communities throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.
The announcements come after the conclusion of the 2024 Junior and Senior Nexus Championship in July.
“The Summer of 2024 has been an exciting time for USA Field Hockey and Nexus Championship, presented by Osaka Hockey, was a huge part of that excitement,” said Liz Sanders, the USA Field Hockey’s Director of Nexus. “Over 1,000 athletes across all age groups competed in this premier pathway event. The level of play, competitiveness and commitment to excellence by all the players sets the stage for continued success by the Junior U.S. Women’s National Teams.”
Heading into the United States-hosted next Olympic games, there is a buzz already building among those involved in the sport.
“We are very excited to get started on the next junior high-performance cycle in the buildup to LA28, which will be here sooner than we think,” said Grant Fulton, USA Field Hockey’s director of Junior High Performance. “The current athlete selection announcement is another step along the pathway, like passing the baton from Nexus to JHP and finally down the road to LA28.”
USA Field Hockey congratulated the athletes on progressing to the forming teams. For those in the U-16 and U-18 Junior Women’s National Team, a selection camp will be held from Dec. 6 to 8, 2024 at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Following the first two training camps, a 2025 U.S. U-16 and U-18 Women’s National Teams will be named, according to the organization.
Following that selection, the two age groups will travel with their squads to compete in a mid-April 2025 Easter tournaments in Europe. Local players from the Wissahickon Now coverage area include:
Camilla Lutte of Lower Gwynedd (Image courtesy of the WC Eagles)Lutte, donning the number 36, plays for the WC Eagles as a forward and midfielder. She is a member of the Class of 2028. Additionally, she has previously played for the Wissahickon Middle School’s field hockey team, lacrosse team, and the Philadelphia HHH 2028 Lacrosse Team. She has also achieved honor rolls in 2021 through 2023, as well as working in her school’s gifted program. 
Haley Elliott of Blue Bell (Image courtesy of the WC Eagles)
Elliott, a class of 2027 forward, midfielder, and defender, plays for the WC Eagles, a field hockey club based out of Spring City. She takes the field wearing the number 18. In addition to field hockey, Elliott has played varsity basketball, club lacrosse, soccer, softball, golf, swimming, squash, and tennis. She serves as president of her student council, in addition to achieving an average grade of 95, meeting honor roll from 2016 to 2021.
Maeve McGinley of Plymouth Meeting (Image courtesy of the WC Eagles) McGinley, a class of 2027 student, plays for the Spring City-based WC Eagles, a field hockey club. She plays at forward and midfield, wearing the number 7. McGinley also participates as a Penn Flutes member and has achieved the Advanced Ensemble Academy of Notre Dame for the flute, as well. McGinley has obtained many academic honors, including Distinguished Honors in 2020 and 2021. She has participated as a Penn Relay qualified team, jazz band, honor band, and played first flute in the Archdiocesan Jazz Band in addition to lacrosse.
