Syracuse, N.Y. — The 2023 All-Central New York field hockey team features 14 players chosen by syracuse.com reporters.
The finalists for field hockey player of the year are Gracen Grimm, Clinton; Fiona McMahon and Isibeal McMahon, Rome Free Academy; and Gabby Wameling, Cicero-North Syracuse.
The winner will be announced at syracuse.com’s annual All-CNY Sports Awards on June 20 at Syracuse University’s Goldstein Auditorium.
Here are the 2023 All-CNY field hockey players:
Name: Alyssa Bonneau
School: Canastota
Class: Junior
Position: Goalkeeper
What’s next for you? I’m looking forward to my volleyball and softball seasons this year along with doing tournaments with my club field hockey team. Then senior year and hopefully college field hockey.
Which teacher or coach has inspired you? My coach Danielle has inspired me because she has shown me what it’s like to not give up. She is also always supportive and trusting of my decisions, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without her.
What day in your life would you like to relive? Winning sectionals during my ninth- and 10th-grade years was something I would like to relive. Both times taught me something different and the joy on all my teammates’ faces was everything.
What was your last TV show binge? Would you recommend it? “Criminal Minds.” Yes, I would recommend it! It’s a long show with a great plot so you won’t get bored!
If you could have any fictional character as your teammate in your sport, who would it be? Curious George. He’s a cool dude and it would be funny watching him play field hockey. He would be very supportive!
Name: Gabby Croniser
School: Camden
Class: Senior
Position: Forward
What’s next for you? College
Which teacher or coach has inspired you? Shannon McPheron has inspired me because even if I was doubting myself, she was always there to push and guide me, no matter how hard a drill could have been she always made it fun. Having Shannon McPheron as a coach did not only make me a better player, but she also encouraged me off the field. She has inspired me to continue field hockey into my college experience and I thank her every day for how much she has helped me grow throughout my high school years.
What day in your life would you like to relive? The day we played our regional game against Vestal. I chose this day not because we lost but because I believe we could have had a better outcome, and playing against them was tough but it was a major learning experience for many girls on the team. I love playing against teams that happen to be very high-ranked because it gives you a lot of insight into things to work on.
What was your last TV show binge? Would you recommend it? The last TV show I watched was “The Vampire Diaries” and I definitely recommend it only if you can watch a TV show that has lots of seasons and because it’s a very interesting show.
If you could have any fictional character as your teammate in your sport, who would it be? I would have the Flash because no one would be able to catch him at all.
Name: Michaela Cushman
School: Holland Patent
Class: Senior
Position: Midfielder
Name: Jaylene Decker
School: Rome Free Academy
Class: Senior
Position: Goalie
What’s next for you? Indoor track
Which teacher or coach has inspired you? My coach. She’s been my biggest supporter and taught me everything I know. She’s had so much patience with me and I’m glad I’m here because of her. She pushed me to be the best I can be and she inspires me every day.
What day in your life would you like to relive? When I shut out C-NS and my team beat C-NS for the sectional title.
What was your last TV show binge? Would you recommend it? “Suits.” I would definitely recommend it if you’re into law and a little bit of drama. It’s written very well and has a good plot.
If you could have any fictional character as your teammate in your sport, who would it be? The Flash because he could run up and down the field all game long.
Name: Gracen Grimm
School: Clinton
Class: Junior
Position: Center forward
What’s next for you? Club field hockey and getting ready for varsity softball and the field hockey recruitment process.
Which teacher or coach has inspired you? My parents because they have inspired me to be a college athlete and helped me not to be good but to be great.
What day in your life would you like to relive? When we won a sectional championship while I was recovering from an injury.
What was your last TV show binge? Would you recommend it? “Friday Night Lights” and yes, I would recommend it. It’s about overcoming obstacles and persevering through adversity.
If you could have any fictional character as your teammate in your sport, who would it be? Katniss Everdeen from “The Hunger Games” because she is loyal, brave and selfless
Name: Avery Mclaughlin
School: Little falls
Class: Senior
Position: Center mid
What’s next for you? I hope to go to college and play field hockey in college.
Which teacher or coach has inspired you? My field hockey coach, Mrs.Tooley, has inspired me. She’s a strong, independent woman who knows so much about coaching and field hockey. She has always believed in me and knew that I was capable of anything I put my mind to.
What day in your life would you like to relive? I would relive winning field hockey sectionals this past year, It felt so good that our team’s hard work had finally paid off and that everyone on the team worked together to get the win. We were all so happy that our season wasn’t over yet. We also got some really good food after, so that just made the day better.
What was your last TV show binge? Would you recommend it? “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” It’s a really good show and I feel like most people would enjoy it so I would recommend it.
If you could have any fictional character as your teammate in your sport, who would it be? The Flash because the Flash is super fast and he could weave in and out of the other team and score quickly and efficiently.
Name: Fiona McMahon
School: Rome Free Academy
Class: Junior
Position: Midfield
What’s next for you? Travel indoor field hockey
Which teacher or coach has inspired you? My field hockey coach, Mac, has inspired me because she always pushes me to improve and never wants me to settle. Coach Mac also played field hockey at the University of Vermont and I am committed to play field hockey there, so it’s very cool to know someone who went through what I will.
What day in your life would you like to relive? I would relive beating C-NS in the sectional championship. We lost to C-NS in sectionals the past two years and RFA field hockey had not won a section title since 2009, so it was huge for us.
What was your last TV show binge? Would you recommend it? “Suits” and I would recommend it because it is very interesting.
If you could have any fictional character as your teammate in your sport, who would it be? Sonic because he is fast.
Name: Isi McMahon
School: Rome Free Academy
Class: Junior
Position: Midfield
What’s next for you? Indoor field hockey
Which teacher or coach has inspired you? Coach Mac because she has helped a lot with recruiting and she played at the University of Vermont and I’m committed to play at the University of Vermont.
What day in your life would you like to relive? Beating C-NS this year in the sectional championship in overtime.
What was your last TV show binge? Would you recommend it? “Cobra Kai.” Yes, I would recommend it. I enjoyed it.
Name: Molly Orth
School: Morrisville-Eaton
Class: Sophomore
Position: Forward
What’s next for you? Playing this winter for the CNY Rage field hockey team and volleyball.
Which teacher or coach has inspired you? The coaches who have inspired me since seventh grade are my track coaches Mr. and Mrs. Smalley. They have spent countless hours with me one-on-one, making me a faster and stronger athlete. Since I was in seventh grade they have taught me about adversity and how to work through the hard things. These lessons have carried me through many things in my life. I have been fortunate to have many great inspiring teachers and coaches who have pushed me to where I am today.
What day in your life would you like to relive? One day that I would love to relive is the day we were given the opportunity to meet the Syracuse field hockey team and the University of North Carolina women’s team. The best part was meeting and interacting with Erin Matson, the head coach of UNC and one of my inspirations.
What was your last TV show binge? Would you recommend it? “Outer Banks.” I would recommend it because it has a good storyline and the characters are relatable.
If you could have any fictional character as your teammate in your sport, who would it be? Simba from “The Lion King” because he faced adversity and challenges but learned to overcome them and find the confidence in himself to be an amazing leader. He would be a great leader on our team.
Name: Haley Otis
School: Mount Markham
Class: Senior
Position: Midfield
What’s next for you? Another sport, volleyball, at St. John Fisher.
Which teacher or coach has inspired you? My first inspiration was my modified coach, Jodi Bard. She was such a fun coach and was a great introduction to the sport. But my varsity coach, Dawn Yerki, has been one of the greatest influences on my athletic life. I played for coach Yerki for four years, and during those four years, she put in so much time not only during the season but during the offseason. Coach Yerki made it possible for so many extra opportunities to be able to play in the offseason. She found leagues for us to play in the winter and in the spring. It was because of Coach Yerki that we had so much success this season.
What day in your life would you like to relive? If I could go back and relive one day it would be Sept. 1 because that night my two elementary school best friends and I went to see our favorite artist, Noah Kahan, perform in Syracuse. It was a great night filled with laughter and tears, but it is one of my favorite memories with them.
What was your last TV show binge? Would you recommend it? “Gilmore Girls” was my last TV show binge and I loved every episode. It was an overall funny show but also had some serious undertones that made me invested in the characters and how different problems would be resolved.
If you could have any fictional character as your teammate in your sport, who would it be? If I could have any fictional character as a teammate it would be Mulan because she is strong, independent and was able to overcome many obstacles that made her more resilient. I think that she would make a great addition to any team.
Name: Avery Prievo
School: Camden
Class: Senior
Position: Forward right wing
What’s next for you? After high school, I will be attending SUNY Cobleskill to further my academics and play Division III softball.
Which teacher or coach has inspired you? My field hockey coach, Coach Mic, has inspired me in so many ways to become a better player and a better person. She always has a positive vibe, which is contagious to our team. Whenever I tend to doubt myself I know that she is someone who will always believe in me.
What day in your life would you like to relive? I will always remember the feeling of beating Holland Patent and winning the Section III championship. I would love to relive that day.
What was your last TV show binge? Would you recommend it? My last TV show binge was “Outer Banks” and I would definitely recommend it because it’s drama-filled and I’m always wanting another episode.
If you could have any fictional character as your teammate in your sport, who would it be? I would say Forrest Gump because he would never stop running.
Name: Lauren Rey
School: Clinton
Class: Junior
Position: Midfield
What’s next for you? I play club field and hockey in the winter and looking at colleges for field hockey
Which teacher or coach has inspired you? My dad because he coached me in ice hockey and helped me through field hockey. He taught me how to push myself.
What day in your life would you like to relive? Scoring the game-winning goal in sectionals in OT.
What was your last TV show binge? Would you recommend it? “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.” If you like witchcraft and magic then yes I would recommend it.
If you could have any fictional character as your teammate in your sport, who would it be? Bowser from Mario because he could destroy people in any sport.
Name: Makena Tooley
School: Little Falls
Class: Senior
Position: Defensive mid
What’s next for you? Finishing my senior year and continuing to play field hockey in college.
Which teacher or coach has inspired you? Jocelyn Beers. Having my mom as my coach can be hard at times and she is always there in my corner supporting me and motivating me to be my best.
What day in your life would you like to relive? The day we played our crossover game and I had a defensive save and the game-winning goal.
What was your last TV show binge? Would you recommend it? “Gilmore Girls.” Yes, I would recommend it. It’s just a classic.
If you could have any fictional character as your teammate in your sport, who would it be? Baymax from “Big Hero 6.” He would be our goalie so nobody could score on us.
Name: Gabriella Wameling
School: Cicero-North Syracuse
Class: Senior
Position: Forward
What’s next for you? I will be attending Shippensburg University where I will be playing field hockey and majoring in education!
Which teacher or coach has inspired you? Pete Moore because he always has believed in me and supported me through it all. He has truly made me the athlete I am today and I’m so thankful to have someone like him in my life.
What day in your life would you like to relive? The day we played in the state championship last year because it was so memorable with the team and such a great experience. It has been my dream to make it there since eighth grade and I never thought it would actually happen.
What was your last TV show binge? Would you recommend it? “Grey’s Anatomy” and yes, I would recommend it.
If you could have any fictional character as your teammate in your sport, who would it be? Animal from the Muppets because I love his energy, craziness and how outgoing he is. It would be so fun to play with him and he would fit in with the team and the sport as well.
Coach of the year
Name: Mackenzie Welter
School: Rome Free Academy
Years coaching: Eight at RFA and four at Hamilton College.
Who inspired you to get into coaching and why? I’m fortunate to have been exposed to a lot of coaches in my life, from the time I was about 5 until I finished playing field hockey in college. I knew when I graduated high school I wanted to return to RFA to coach the same team I played for. I’m fortunate to say I accomplished this initial goal, and even more blessed now to have a staff of coaches who are phenomenal people who will do anything for our athletes. My list of inspirational people is too long for this, but I’ll highlight two: My mom and dad. Growing up, I heard and saw moments of obstacles/frustrations/mistakes they overcame with success through hard work. This made me want to become just like them, so I could instill life lessons in young people. My mom coached various sports/levels in Rome from the time she was hired until she started having children. She’s a level-headed, balanced and smart woman who knows how to motivate athletes to always try their best and to make everyone feel included. My dad coached RFA ice hockey for over 20 years and was my youth ice hockey coach growing up. He pushed developing foundational skills to improve overall performance but also life skills like work ethic, teamwork and accountability. Between the two, I’d like to think (and hope) that this is where my own philosophies have evolved from.
What day in your life would you like to relive? Tell us about it. Oct. 29. The sectional final game vs. C-NS. C-NS was a strong team again this season and our style of hockey doesn’t usually match up well against them. So we changed our game strategy by countering their strengths with our personnel and style of play. Our players executed the game plan perfectly! We took them to OT and won 1-0. Replaying the entire game and post-goal reaction is something I do frequently. This was the first sectional title in the program since 2009, so it was a huge accomplishment for this team. I’m very proud of the girls for trusting us and sticking to the game plan all game, but even more proud of their two-way effort, gutting it out and never giving up, especially in moments of adversity!
What was your last TV show binge? Would you recommend it? Don’t laugh at me for this one. “Fuller House.” It brings me back to my younger days when “Full House” was at its peak. I’d recommend it if you enjoy the original TV show as many of the same characters are in this more recent show.
If you could coach any fictional character in your sport, who would it be, and why? I’m going to go with a real person here. Erin Matson. She is one of the greatest field hockey players of all time. I want to pick her brain about skills, listen to how she explains game strategy and add new drills to my repertoire that she finds tried and true. With her resume, she has the knowledge to impact everyone and make the game better.
Second team
Ella Holtman, Baldwinsville
Raegyn Wells, Baldwinsville
Rhyanne Johnson, Camden
Brooke Roberts, Canastota
Reid McMurtie, Cazenovia
Eva Farone, Cicero-North Syracuse
Terra McLaughlin, Holland Patent
Mia Berthoff, Liverpool
Caitlyn Guilfoil, Liverpool
Virginia Culver, Mount Markham
Xiomara Rivera, New Hartford
Abby McKay, Port Byron
Camryn Shea, Vernon Verona Sherrill
Gabby Jeffers, Weedsport
Brianna DeHimer, Whitesboro
Anjali Sowich, Whitesboro
Honorable mention
Lyla Robertson, Camden
Madison Rothfeld, Cazenovia
Kirsten Lighthall, Holland Patent
Olivia Brand, Little Falls
Jayden Regan, Little Falls
Hailey Lee, Mount Markham
Lexie Wolf, Mount Markham
Kylee Cordway, Port Byron
Kate West, Port Byron
Cara Mecca, Rome Free Academy
Arieanna Giacolone, Weedsport
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