Two from Fallbrook chosen for Nat'l Field Hockey Indoor Tournament

Two Fallbrook players were selected to play in the National Field Hockey Indoor Tournament March 9-11 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Kathleen Mellano and Devon Holman were among the ten players selected to the California team. All ten of those players were from San Diego County; eight are field players while two are goaltenders.

Mellano and Holman are both juniors at Fallbrook High School. While they cannot officially represent Fallbrook High School outside of the CIF field hockey season, high school coach Kathy Waite is also the coach of the Guac Girls, who are comprised mostly if not entirely of Fallbrook High School varsity and junior varsity field hockey players and who participate in tournaments and indoor leagues during the CIF off-season.

“I’m just first of all thrilled that their skills were good enough and they’re willing to do it,” said Waite. “You’re looking at a step above and beyond.”

Four Guac Girls players had tried out for the National Field Hockey Indoor Tournament. Emily Badillo and goalie Roslyn Reynoso were unsuccessful in their quest for berths on the team.

The players tried out for the National Field Hockey Indoor Tournament on January 27 in a night tryout following a North County Indoor Field Hockey league contest earlier that day. Mellano and Holman were notified later that week.

“I’m just so pleased that they did so well,” Waite said. “To be the top eight in San Diego County for indoor, that’s exciting. I’m thrilled.”

The first-ever California team to participate in the National Field Hockey Indoor Tournament consisted of ten players from seven high schools in San Diego County. One of those players was Fallbrook goalkeeper Lauren Woods. Because the North County Indoor Field Hockey League is in part a preparation for the following CIF field hockey season, seniors usually do not play in that league and Woods was not considered for this year’s National Field Hockey Indoor Tournament.

Waite was pleased that Fallbrook’s representation increased from one player to two. “Bodes very well for how they’ll play next year,” she said.

Indoor field hockey consists of six players from each team, including the goalkeeper, on a field which measures slightly smaller than a basketball court. Prior to the 2006 National Field Hockey Indoor Tournament the parent of one of the San Pasqual High School players researched the tournament and found a national team player willing to coach the San Diego girls. Approximately 70 under-19 teams participated in last year’s National Field Hockey Indoor Tournament, and San Diego’s 2006 team finished third in its eight-team pool with a 4-2-1 record.

Most teams had to place high enough in a qualifying tournament to earn a berth to the National Field Hockey Indoor Tournament, and under ordinary circumstances San Diego would have had to play in a qualifying tournament in Michigan. Since no California teams had previously applied, however, San Diego was given a lottery position so that the players wouldn’t have to travel to Michigan, return to San Diego, and then leave for Virginia.

“I’m just very pleased that we have the opportunity to play in that tournament,” Waite said.