Blue Wave Field Hockey is and will remain a dynasty. The literal definition of a dynasty is "a sequence of rulers from the same family." The word dynasty is not just an accurate description of the field hockey program but perhaps a clue into why the program is so successful.
The team's prospects this year seemed shakier than that of previous years. The team lost 13 seniors out of an 18 player roster. However, most doubts were soon silenced. The team traveled to Lakeland, New York to face the number one team in the nation. The best of the best, though, was not good enough to topple the youthful Blue Wave. The girls held off the powerhouse and surged to a 4 to 3 victory. This game was out of conference and out of state. A loss would have done little to dismiss chances of an FCIAC or CIAC championship. What was on the line was the "streak." "I try to talk about the streak as little as possible, it's a great streak and all but I don't want the focus to be on some silly record' said coach Mo Minicus. The Blue Wave girls hold the longest winning streak for field hockey in the nation.
The win at Lakeland shows just how strong the program, under National Field Hockey Coach of the Year, Mo Minicus, really is. Two key foundations of the team are hard work and team chemistry. The team bonds throughout the challenges of the season. With tryouts comes the 4-2-1-1. Here the team runs 4 laps (one mile), 2 laps (half mile), and then cap it off with two "fast laps". Despite the clear and dominant reign, these wins are not simply handed to the girls. "People don't get how bad we want it, the may hear us say oh we're driving for five but they don't understand how bad we want it, how bad we want that five-peat," said junior Sam Wright. That deep desire to win is not all the girls bring to the table: "My philosophy is really that there needs to be a balance of hard work and fun, the girls need to be able to laugh with each other, pass to each other, and support each other," said Coach Minicus.
This sort of team chemistry is built on purpose. What the team calls "no running days" come up sporadically throughout the season. On these days Coach Minicus organizes touch football games, scavenger hunts, and other fun activities, sometimes the girls have no practice at all and just go to Mo's house for ice cream. The team also holds occasional team bonding nights where the girls just hang out and watch a movie. "There is no fighting or any tension in our team," said junior Kat Huber, "We really are a family, I love my sisters." Blue Wave Field hockey is not just a family, but a family of rulers. A dynasty.
