HATFIELD — The Smith Academy field hockey team will now be playing its home games at Judy Strong Field.
Strong has a storied field hockey career, beginning at Smith Academy before moving on to play at UMass, where she shined. She later played for Team USA and won a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympics and coached at Western New England and Smith College. She’s now in her first year as varsity coach back at her alma mater.
On Sunday, Smith Academy officially named its field hockey field — which was built two years ago — Judy Strong Field, with a ribbon cutting ceremony followed by an alumni game between current and former Falcons.
“I’m not one to like attention or awards because you’re not in it for that, you do it for the sport,” Strong said. “I’m a little overwhelmed with what they did to name this field in my honor.”
This is the first year Smith Academy is hosting field hockey games on its new field and though not it’s not turf, the field does have low cut grass that’s easy to play on. That’s certainly a stark difference from the fields Strong played on during her time with the Falcons.
“The fields we played on weren’t spectacular and we still got the job done,” Strong said. “Seventh grade, you’re just learning to play the sport and it’s a very unique sport. It’s one sport you can’t pickup unless you play it. It’s just different. To come full circle for all I’ve done in the sport throughout my career then to end up where I started, it’s pretty special.”
For Smith Academy athletic director Allison Slysz — who played field hockey for the Falcons — getting to play on the field in the alumni game Sunday was about as good as it gets.
“It was my dream to be on the field playing on the same team as people like Judy Strong and Lynne-Ann Kokoski,” Slysz said. “They’re legends at Smith Academy. For me to be able to be on the same field as them is super exciting.”
Many turned out for Sunday’s ceremony, with former players, current players and those who helped build the field speaking about the impact Strong has had on them.
Karlie Guimond, who graduated from Smith Academy in 2020, helped spearhead the effort to get the new field named after Strong. Guimond, who is now a sophomore playing on the field hockey team at Smith College, said she was pleased to see it come to fruition.
“I’ve been working with Judy since 2018 and she’s made a huge difference for me as a player,” Guimond said. “I just wanted to see this go through for her and see this field named after her because she deserves it. We started doing Zoom meetings at the beginning of COVID and it’s been meeting about how we’re going to make this happen. This field looks great and Judy seems so happy so I’m super happy.”
Guimond, like many connected to the current Falcon team, started playing with Strong when she started a youth field hockey program in Hatfield.
With the players she started working with now playing for her at the varsity level and beyond, she said she’s been able to see the progress made and is proud to still have an impact on the local field hockey community.
“I love that it took a running start right off the bat,” Strong said. “The youth program, we weren’t sure what we’d get for a turnout in 2018 and we had 30 kids try out. All I want them to do is be exposed to the sport. What they choose to do, if they play other sports, it’s fine. It was really cool to see. To come now a few years later and have them compete and get some games in, they’re hooked. I’m hoping it will keep the future of field hockey going.”
Strong said she’s proud to get the chance to come back and coach at the school where it all began.
“That’s what Hatfield is all about,” Strong said. “We’re a small town but whenever there’s an athletic event or a parade, everyone rallies and it’s spectacular to be a part of this small town support.”