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Five Cavaliers to Compete in U.S. National Championship
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Four current members of the Virginia field hockey team and one former Cavalier will compete in the 2012 Senior Women’s National Championship, slated for June 1-8 in College Park, Md.
Pan American Games gold medalists and Olympic hopefuls Paige Selenski (Shavertown, Pa.) and Michelle Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.) join former Cavalier Kim Kastuk (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) and rising junior Carissa Vittese (Cherry Hill, N.J.) as members of the Mid-Atlantic High Performance team. Rising sophomore and U.S. U-19 national team member Rachel Sumfest (Lewisburg, Pa.) will play for the Pennsylvania team.
“The women’s national championship will be fiercely competitive as the athletes are standing selection to the 2012 Olympic Games,” Virginia head coach Michele Madison said. “UVa will be well-represented. Congratulations to Carissa, Kim and Rachel as selections were extra competitive in this Olympic year.”
Additionally, Virginia associate head coach Michael Boal will serve as an assistant coach with the Mid-Atlantic Team.
“The Women’s National Championship is the selection trials for our senior squad, which undoubtedly carries a lot of weight,” U.S. head coach Lee Bodimeade said. “The national team and development squad will be named and athletes will be given the opportunity to represent the U.S. at not just the upcoming Olympic Games, but in Rio (2016) as well. It is our premier domestic competition in which we determine what athletes are going to contribute to the program’s future successes.”
Following the championship match, Bodimeade will announce athletes to the national and development squads. From the new pool of athletes named to the national team, Bodimeade will select a 16-woman roster to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games. The 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Field Hockey Team is set to be announced on June 23, subject to approval from the United States Olympic Committee board of directors.
Admission is free and open to the public. All matches will be held at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex on the University of Maryland campus. The competition schedule and further information can be found on usafieldhockey.com.