Emma Wilson loves playing school sports.
Another sport that could join her list is field hockey. Wilson and a group of Grade 7 and 8 Skaha Lake Middle School students learned to play field hockey from members of the Maggie Mustangs. Wilson may eventually join the Mustangs field hockey team after her recent experience.
“It was really fun. The girls are really friendly,” said Wilson. “It’s a lot different from what sports (softball, hockey and swimming) I usually play. I really like it.”
Over the two sessions, stick handling was a bit difficult for the lefty. She wasn’t alone as Madi Boerner and Emily Oakes faced the same challenges. With time they got better. What Wilson liked most was learning the rules and being around the older players.
Boerner also enjoyed the experience and learning from the Mustangs. Her first exposure to the sport was positive and she wants to continue playing. She has desire to be on the Mustangs team.
“It’s really cool and different to play,” she said. “It was a little difficult at first, until you got to know how to use the stick properly.”
Oakes found the Mustangs, along with coach Brenda Kelly, to be good teachers.
“It seems really fun, really competitive,” she said. “I like the aggression. I like that you can learn how to shoot with different hands.”
With the game being similar to hockey, Oakes wants to learn more about the game and likes that it is played at a high pace.
Kelly was impressed by the newcomers.
“I couldn’t believe how aggressive they were,” said Kelly. “How good they were in going for the ball scoring. They are not timid.”
Since the Skaha Lake Sharks did not field a team this season, the Grade 7 students who came out are eligible to play with the Mustangs next season. Kelly said when told about that, the players were excited.
“I think it would be really good to try and bring them up,” she said.
