Fletcher becomes Bishop Ireton's first all-conference field hockey honoree

Sophomore Grace Fletcher (8) was Bishop Ireton's first ever 1st team, all conference selectee, seen in action against Elizabeth Seton.

The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) released their 2013 list of first and second team all conference field hockey performers Tuesday and, with the announcement, Bishop Ireton had their first ever WCAC first-team, all-conference honoree in sophomore Grace Fletcher. The Springfield, Virginia, forward was one of six offensive players selected for the squad, along with five defensive players, and a goalkeeper.

“We are one of seven teams in the conference, more than 150 players total, and to have a sophomore selected for one of 12 spots, and three players on the top two teams overall was impressive to me.” said Coach Betty Sixsmith of the results. “I can’t say enough about how well the girls are developing. Anna Fracasso had the highest save percentage in the Conference, and as a sophomore, who has never received any specialized training, to be selected to the second team is unbelievable!”

The Cardinals did land Fracasso on the league’s second team as a goalkeeper and junior Kelly Mathews was selected also on the second team’s defensive unit. Joining the three players were Christine Macey, Rachel Macey, Hayley Snell, Kendall Cunningham, and Isabel Obregon on the honorable mention list.

Bishop Ireton did sponsor field hockey for the first two years immediately after St Mary’s Academy closed and the all-boys school became co-ed, but facility challenges and dwindling participation ended the program after its second season and volleyball sprang up as the new Washington Catholic Athletic Conference came into existence in 1993. The Cardinals returned to field hockey on a limited basis in 2011 and played it’s first full WCAC season in 2012. A 2-0 win over Elizabeth Seton was the School’s first WCAC varsity field hockey win earlier in the season, a feat they duplicated in a 2-0 win at Bishop O’Connell to end the regular season schedule.

Only Cunningham is a senior, so the Cardinals would seem to have a bright field hockey future ahead of them with this cast of characters poised to return in 2014!