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Mid-Atlantic Field Hockey Camp marks 42nd year

Frannie Slabonik in her 40th year
More than 100 campers attended the second session of the Mid-Atlantic Field Hockey Camp, now in its 40th year at Cape Henlopen State Park. In each session, campers were exposed to skills from beginner all the way up to the finer points of field hockey play. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
August 1, 2019

Mid-Atlantic Field Hockey Camp made its 42nd yearly visit to Cape Henlopen State Park, where players ranging from beginners to advanced participated in the four-day, hands-on experience. Three sessions were held with campers from fourth through 12th grades, exposing 260 future field hockey stars to passing, ball control, shooting, footwork, goal tending, offensive and defensive strategy, and many more fun activities.

Frannie Slabonik, a physical education teacher and field hockey coach in the Eastern Lebanon County School District, Myerstown, Pa., has attended the camp for the last 40 years, first as a camper and now as its director. She assembled a premier group of counselors, ranging from high school coaches to college players and coaches, to teach the finer points of field hockey and make sure the campers had an enjoyable, positive experience.

“It’s a fun experience,” said Paige O’Brian, 14, who attends Newark Charter School. “It’s great to learn new skills while playing with players from different places.”

“I love it here,” said goalie Teagan Farina of Souderton, Pa. “I really learned a lot about my position. It’s a great camp.”

For more information about the camp, go to www.midatlanticfieldhockey.com.

 

More than 100 campers attended the second session of the Mid-Atlantic Field Hockey Camp, now in its 40th year at Cape Henlopen State Park. In each session, campers were exposed to skills from beginner all the way up to the finer points of field hockey play. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Mid-Atlantic staff in back include (l-r) Noel Martin, Sidney Varney, Maddy Varney, Lori Miller, Anne Nelson, Frannie Slabonik, Cathy Jackson, Sarah Symes, Sarah Shollenberger, Shannon Strosser and Carly Steckline. In front are Shannon O’Rielly, Abby Kemble, Tori Tredinnick, Molly Fruit, Anna Martin, Lydia Charles-Marchuck and Christine Selover.
Olivis Stafford, left, and Ashley Kennedy of Yorktown, Va., swing to the musical warm-up before starting daily activities.
Leading the daily musical warm-ups are staff members (l-r) Shannon O’Reilly, Sidney Varney, Shannon Strosser, Noel Martin and Sarah Symes.
Camp field hockey director Cathy Jackson demonstrates an offensive situation with goalie Sarah Shollenberger.
Camp director Frannie Slabonik joins in on the daily musical warm-ups.
Sounds boom from the speakers, and the campers get pumped for the daily agenda of hockey skills and scrimmages.
Campers participate in the daily warm-ups.
Posing for the camera are campers (l-r) Bella Volz, Taluna Doherty, Emily Stafford, Ashley Kennedy, Katelyn Stafford and Olivia Stafford.
Camper Emma Campbell, 11, of Sussex Academy, takes a shot on a flick drill.
Camp director Frannie Slabonik joins in on the warm-up to “whip and nae nae.”
Paige O’Brian does a self-pass ball-control drill.
Teagan Farina from Souderton, Pa., makes a stop in the cage.
Kelly Graham, right, works on aerials with coach Molly Fruit of Bloomsburg.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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