Following the 2015-2016 school year, the Holyoke High School field hockey team received news that none of their previous coaching staff would be returning for the 2016 fall season.

The players received word of the news through a text message from their previous head coach, Jackie Motyl, who explained that she would not be returning for the 2016 season. The whole team was taken aback by the news.

Varsity midfielder Isabella Courchesne ’18 said, “I understood her reasoning, but I was still very sad to see her go.”

In the message, Jackie went on to tell the team that she was not returning to coach because she was not returning to teach in the Holyoke Public Schools. She lives in Worcester, MA and made the difficult decision that the commute was going to be too much.

For the whole summer,  the team waited for news of a new coach, asking other players if they had heard anything as well as e-mailing the Holyoke High athletic director.

Finally, the team received news that new coaches had been appointed. The new varsity head coaches were Maryann and Susan Pelligrinelli, and the junior varsity head coach was Bridget Higgins.

Maryann is a physical education teacher at the high school,  more commonly known as “Ms. Pel.” Her sister, Susan, works in the Southwick Public School system, and Bridget Higgins is a junior at Westfield State University, as well as a former member of the Holyoke High field hockey team.

Maryann used to coach the team before Jackie Motyl, and was the founder of the program.

When asked how she felt about returning to coach the Holyoke High field hockey team, Maryann Pelligrinelli said, “It’s great! I love it and I’m so excited to be back.”

The whole team is excited to see what the new coaching staff will bring to the program, and what the 2016 holds for the Hoyoke High Field Hockey teams!