Never satisfied, Warwick All-American has hunger to address in field hockey swan song

Then-Warwick junior high coach Ron Stief sounded the whistle on field hockey practice. Karys Craver stuffed her belongings in a bag and hopped in the car to attend a cross-country meet. She’d often finish at the top of the pack.

Some personalities never change. Because five years later, Stief, the Warriors’ varsity bench boss, is still searching for ways to challenge his blue-chip recruit midfielder.

“That’s just the kind of kid she is,” Stief said. “If there’s nothing to do, Karys can get bored. So we (as a coaching staff) have to keep it fresh.”

Craver is the glue of the Warriors’ midfield. The oil to the machine. The consummate teammate, exercising every drop of internal energy while leveraging the same from her counterparts.

The Ohio State pledge will be Warwick’s heartbeat this fall as the Warriors brace for PIAA and District Three Class 2A title defenses. As a junior, Craver earned All-State first-team distinction, secured an All-American nod and had 30 assists and 25 goals.

With the Warriors having familiar faces returning and emitting leadership at the forefront, Stief’s superb senior said she feels there’s untapped potential — individual and as a team — to be unleashed. Warwick’s 4-0 and 4-1 wins against Northern York in last year’s respective district and state finals merely scratched the surface.

“I’m pretty much a go-for-it type of player,” Craver said. “I love to score, and I like to put it in the back of the net and have my teammates score, too. I’m really someone who likes to assist the ball, because I know my teammates are gonna put it away. So I think that aspect of being that pass threat, but also the shooting and dribbling threat, makes me different. I’m full steam ahead, sometimes to the point of, ‘Whoa, whoa, relax a little.’ ”

The Warriors are doing anything but relaxing yet aren’t overcomplicating matters. They feel the weight pressing down yet aren’t threatened. They’re on the hunt while still wearing the prey label, having to navigate a minefield of Lancaster-Lebanon League Section One strongholds and District Three and PIAA perennials.

VIDEO: Scenes from L-L Field Hockey & Girls Volleyball Media Day 2025

The 2024 state crown was the program’s fourth and first since 2000. Craver and her teammates weren’t even a twinkle in their parents’ eyes when the calendar flipped to the 21st century.

But with the gold pocketed, the twinkle has transformed to a taste the players can’t surrender, a no-holds-barred approach that’s attached to Craver’s athletic journey and since seeped into her teammates’ bloodstream.

“It’s always that thought in the back of my mind of, ‘You’re doing well, but you can do better,’ ” Craver said. “You can always make yourself a better player. You can always do better for your teammates as well, because your teammates are relying on you.”

Being relied on is second nature to Craver. While some succumb to the pressure, simplistic and swift are core characteristics of the senior standout.

Craver does have assistance. A circle of trust, if you will.

Fellow middies Calli Martin and Taylor Hess ease the burden. Martin, a senior and longtime best friend, stamped All-State second-team admission last season. Hess, a junior and a future Buckeye, scored All-State first-team honors after recording 20 goals and 10 assists.

“The girls around her are really talented … so the respect there for their work ethic and skills really helps those relationships,” Stief said. “We really try to have fun. And we probably have more fun than most teams. But when it gets down to it, this group really works.”

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