The 2009 Angel 34 Field Hockey Classic will be played at 1 and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, at Emmaus High School. Senior players from District XI high schools will compete in two games versus teams from District III. Proceeds from the games will benefit Angel 34 and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
More than 450 players raised $16,000 by participating in the Sixth Annual Walk for Hope for Children Battling Cancer and the first-ever Field Hockey Olympics on Sept. 20. Proceeds went into a cherub fund to support students in their own district, into medical arts scholarships to graduating participants, and to Angel 34. Five $1,000 Nonathletic scholarships will be awarded by the Angel 34 Field Hockey Classic Committee this spring.
The Angel 34 Foundation was founded in 2003 by Northampton High School student Nicole Sheriff during her battle with cancer. In her freshman year, Sheriff took her battle onto the playing field and asked District XI teams to support her cause “that every child have their own angel during their battle with cancer.” Over the next 1½ months, the teams helped to raise more than $15,000 to jump-start Sheriff’s foundation and to support her ICEE Program.
Before her passing in May 2004, Sheriff set up a foundation to support her ICEE Program as well as to provide financial support to families, have pet therapy programs, create medical arts scholarships, and donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital for cancer research. One hundred percent of the money Angel 34 raises is used to support the mission. Since 2004, the Angel 34 Foundation has provided nearly $2 million to children and their families
In 2008, the Angel 34 Foundation opened its doors to Angel Field, Nazareth, Pa, a bed-and-breakfast and retreat for children battling cancer. The facility provides activities and therapy programs to the children and their families at no cost. By 2010 the hope is to provide children from across the country the opportunity to stay at Angel Field for one week. During their stay the children will be provided with daily trips to local vacation spots in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding communities and states. Local families with a child in the hospital for cancer treatment will be able to stay overnight at Angel Field.
Players participating in the 2009 Field Hockey Classic from District XI and New Jersey high schools are as follows:
Bangor: London Dickey, Jenna Moffett, and Sara Maloney; Catasauqua: Shawnna Beil, Angela Rigopoulos, Mo Donchez, and Andrea Eck; Central Catholic: Lucia Romano, Jackie Hollawell, Abby Storm, and Taylor Watts; Easton: Lindsay Richey, Sondra Winders, and Alexa Llagas; Emmaus: Shannon Creghan, Madison Blyler, Jessica Vaeth, and Kate Mitchell; East Stroudsburg North : Alyssa Kennedy, Neena Black, Megan Goetz, and Amanda Haese; East Stroudsburg South: Nicole Grimaldi, Brielle Kessel, and Caitlin Toleno; Franklin, N.J.: Lexi Berko, Diamond Holloman, Emily Behn, and Molly Rynn; Lehighton: Abby Frey, Corri McConville, and Sarah Snyder: Liberty: Taylor Schlenar, Taylor Mihalik, and Megan Seifert; Moravian Academy: Jordan Will-Weber, Victoria Tersigni, Julie Fraenkel, and Callie Woods; Nazareth: Hilary Dilsaver, Meghan Mills, and Erin Reilly; Northampton: Ann Marie Dalton, Krista Filchner, Becky Kistler, Nicole Leo, and Stephanie Belaires; Northwestern: Kina Wehr, Alison Oxley, and Caitlin Bagenstose; Parkland: Megan Keen, Maura Ringer, Emily Schneider, and Alexis Gersbach; Pen Argyl: Carly Torgersen, Molly Geklinsky, and Jaclyn Parsons; Phillipsburg, N.J.: Amanda Mack, Sharon Cockerline, Samantha Lavin, and Jen Harbison; Pleasant Valley: Samantha Cunningham, Kelsey McGarvey, and Cathryn Chaszar; Pocono Mountain East: Caitlyn Boylan, Nicky Linder, Ashley Zimmerman, and Katelyn Farmer; Pocono Mountain West: Samantha Fuss, Leslie Contopidis, and Brittany Villar; Stroudsburg: Rachael Hare, Kayleigh Stewart, Jenn Eppley, and Sara Williams; William Allen: Emily Morrell and Kristen Focht; Whitehall: Erin Bonshak, Alana Costenboder, Ashley Koren, and Elizabeth Millen; and Wilson: Nicole Campbell, Renae Gornick, and Lauren Iobst.
The teams will be divided into two groups for the 1 and 3 p.m. games. Students from the following teams will play in the 1 p.m. game: Northampton, Moravian Academy, Catasauqua, Pocono Mountain West, Bangor, Easton, Emmaus, Nazareth, Pleasant Valley, Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg South, and Franklin. Officials are Chris Pocovich and Kris Check.
Students from the following teams will play in the 3 p.m. game: Parkland, Lehighton, East Stroudsburg North, Pocono Mountain East, Whitehall, Central Catholic, Liberty, Northwestern, Pen Argyl, William Allen, Wilson, and Phillipsburg. Officials are Martin Romeril and Brenda Mitstifer.
Admission is $5 each for adults and $3 each for students and senior citizens.
