With the onset of the 2025 fall sports season upon us, it was once again time for the annual PennLive Mid-Penn Media Days. The event was a three day affair, held at the Patriot-News headquarters in Mechanicsburg on Wednesday August 6th through Friday, August 8th.
First Up: Big Spring Field Hockey. The team is under the direction of Head Coach Carly Zinn, who is entering her fourth year at the helm. Each of those years the team has shown improvement, and this year they may well have the roster to have a breakout season.
The 2024 season produced five Mid Penn Division All-Star selections, four of whom are returning players including seniors Malia Ocker and Maria Tandle, junior Jemma Boothe, and last year’s freshman goalie Addison Urso.
But, the experience doesn’t end with those four returners. There is a lot of talent on this year’s team which includes seniors Sophia Gracey, Koya Gutshall, and Heaven Ramirez, along with juniors Hanna Black and Nicole Baughman. There are others, to include last year’s freshmen, who along with those above, all received varsity playing time. Perhaps the most important aspect is the fact that every team member has played their entire varsity career under the leadership of Coach Zinn.
That was evident when I did the team interviews during Media Day. Coach Zinn brought three players with her, junior Hanna Black, and seniors Malia Ocker and Maria Tandle. All three acknowledged the overall team talent, but also the level of work that is required to realize their potential. Ocker and Tandle both showed an understanding of the responsibilities of senior leadership, not only during a game, but everyday at practice, in the huddle, and even off the field. Coach Zinn stressed the importance of not only teaching field hockey skills, but also teaching an understanding of the game, knowing your assigned position and where you should be on the field in every situation, and what your responsibilities are. Knowing and teaching the little things and finer points all add up to success.
The first test for this year’s team is a an away non-league contest against Biglerville on Saturday, August 23rd. The first divisional game of the 2025 season is against Middletown on Monday, August 25th, at home. The is the last year for the Bulldogs to play in the Mid Penn League, as they are moving to the York/Adams County league for 2026/2027.