photo provided Team members and coaches for the Muncy Girls Hockey Team are (Front row): Willow Perakovich, Madeleine Boerckel, Ariana Copeland, Meredith McCahan, Hallie McClure (captain), Isabelle Gush (captain), Kaylyn Nierzwicki and Ryanna McLean (Back row): Assistant Coach Charity Good, Lillian Chronister, Sophia Cole, Audrey Johnson, Alaina Brelsford, Madison Yaple, Brandi Hitesman (captain), Alannah Moyle, Head Coach Rae-Ellah Biddle and Lacy Eckard

MUNCY – For Rae Biddle, Muncy’s girl’s field hockey coach, tells us, “I loved the sport having played in high school, and wanted to become involved by helping my former Warrior Run team. The coach at the time mentioned Milton’s head coach needing an assistant, so I started coaching with Kelly Shearer during my junior year of college in the fall of 2007.”

Biddle has spent 12 of her 15-year coaching career at Muncy after being hired as a ninth grade English teacher. She is also the advisor for the Blue Arrow.

For Biddle, she said, “Working every year with the girls is a joy, both junior high and varsity level. Getting to know them outside the classroom setting helps foster relationships. We’ve had some ups and downs with low numbers and losses over the years, but I’m lucky to have passionate and dedicated players every year. My hockey parents have also been a great asset to the program; they are willing to help out whenever necessary and support all players on the team, not just their own kids.”

Summing up recent activities, Biddle said, “This year’s team has the best chemistry of all the years I’ve coached. We have a large class of juniors, most of whom have been playing together since 7th grade. Our senior captain, Hallie McClure, recently scored her 50th career goal. Many of the girls play year-round with indoor at Sports Zone during the winter and summer seasons and by joining club teams in the winter and spring. The girls work out in the school weight room over the summer and throughout the year; we’re fortunate to have a dedicated strength training coach in Ken Hampe. Most of the team is able to attend an overnight camp every summer as well, recently at East Stroudsburg University and Lock Haven University. These girls are dedicated and passionate about their team and the sport.” 

Reaching out to laud others, Biddle said that “My assistant Charity Good is a former player and student. My volunteer assistant Cindie Lytle was my high school assistant coach. The teams captains are Brandi Hitesman (senior), Hallie McClure (senior) and Isabelle Gush (junior).

CHARITY GOOD, Assistant Coach

Charity Good, an occupational therapist at UPMC Williamsport, is Muncy’s assistant field hockey coach. She said, “I am grateful to have had several great coaches and support growing up. Those coaches taught me so much and were positive examples, and it is a privilege to now be a coach and hopefully have that same effect on some of our players.”

Good relayed that, “I first got involved as a volunteer coach in 2018 after finishing college. I love our Muncy community and it has been nice to stay involved and bring some of the skills I learned in college back to our community. I love having the opportunity to coach alongside Coach Biddle who was my high school coach and has really brought a lot of growth to the Muncy field hockey program in the past several years.”

The assistant I was a volunteer coach of JV/Varsity and Jr High Field hockey during three seasons. This is my first year as the assistant coach for the JV/Varsity team. Good finds it a definite joy seeing the girls develop into better players and young women. It is also exciting to share with them their personal and athletic milestones. Good said, “The biggest challenge with coaching is just figuring out the best way to keep them motivated and prepare for each game so each one can reach their full potential as individuals and as a team.”

Good views this years group as a great team and a joy to coach. She said, “They are a small, tight-knit group and are always having fun, working hard, and encouraging one another. They are friends on and off the field which helps them have a lot of chemistry to do well individually and as a team. Our captains have a lot of playing experience and bring positive leadership to the team, always encouraging the girls and leading by example. I am excited to watch the team continue to develop the rest of the season, and to see what each girl is able to do the rest of their career.