Greatness Recognized at 2024 Hall of Fame Celebration
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WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. – On Friday evening, on the eve of the 52nd annual California Cup, more than 150 individuals gathered to celebrate greatness at the USA Field Hockey 2024 Hall of Fame Celebration. The night was dedicated to honoring and recognizing those who have dedicated so much to field hockey in the United States.
Bill Rappolt, a USA Field Hockey Foundation Trustee, kicked off the event with a welcome and introduction, leading into an update from Pam Stuper, USA Field Hockey Foundation Executive Director, about the newly updated Hall of Fame category of Contributor.
Then, in a crowded room full of field hockey enthusiasts and supporters, the Dare to Differ video was shown – a fitting start to a night dedicated to honoring those who grow the game like no others.
Simon Hoskins, USA Field Hockey’s Executive Director, took the stage next. He took a moment to honor all those who have contributed to USA Field Hockey in any capacity – athletes, coaches, umpires – on this special night.
Former captain of the U.S. Women’s National Team and 2022 Hall of Fame inductee Lauren Liska kicked off the night’s meal with a reflection on field hockey. After dinner and dessert, Stuper returned to the podium to begin the main ceremony. This began with a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Field Hockey Men’s Team and Women’s Bronze Medal Team, as well as the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Women's World Cup Bronze Medal Team.
Three 1984 Olympians were present – Manzar Iqbal, Beth Belgin, and Marcella Place – and each reminisced on their favorite moments of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The first 2024 Hall of Fame inductee to be honored was Patrick Cota. Cota was a 14-year U.S. Men’s National Team member who represented the United States in 119 international matches. He was named to the Pan American Federation Elite Team in 2009. In addition to being one of the most decorated men’s national team athletes, Cota also dedicated his life to giving back to the game. In addition to coaching every level from youth to national, Cota served two terms on the USA Field Hockey Board of Directors as an Athlete Representative and two terms on the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) on the Athlete Advisory Council. He continues to serve as a director on the USA Men's Field Hockey Foundation.
Kelly Doton was honored as the next 2024 Hall of Fame inductee. A Beijing 2008 Olympian, Doton was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team from 2005 through 2010 and represented Team USA in over 100 international matches. She was one of the most dominant players in the country during her collegiate career, and was inducted into the Wake Forest Hall of Fame in October 2014. Doton joined the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2005 and quickly established herself as one of the best attack corner hitters in the country. She helped Team USA qualify for an Olympic Games held outside of the United States for the first time in 20 years. The pinnacle of her international career, Doton led Team USA to an 8th place finish at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. After her playing career, Doton moved on to coaching, and has been head coach at Boston College since 2015.
The third 2024 Hall of Fame Inductee to be honored was Katelyn Falgowski Ginolfi. Three-time Olympian Ginolfi has one of the most decorated playing careers for the U.S. Women’s National Team after having competed in 261 international matches for Team USA. She joined the USWNT in 2005, when she was just 15 years old, and instantly earned respectful recognition as a wise athlete beyond her years. She helped USA to a gold medal and Olympic berth at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, was named to the 2011 World All-Star team, and was nominated for the 2011 FIH Young Player of the Year Award.
Katelyn was also part of the USA team that went undefeated at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, securing the squad qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. This was followed up by a fifth-place finish at the FIH Hockey World League Semifinals, and a bronze medal at the 2016 Hockey Champions Trophy in London, England. Continuing with that momentum, USA impressed the world that August at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games earning a historical fifth place finish.
Amy Hassick Baxter, the first to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the newly added category of Officials, was honored next. Amy is a world-renowned umpire, joining the international track in 2005 and going on to officiate at Four Nations Tournaments, FIH Hockey World League events, Champions Trophies, World Cup Qualifiers, Olympic Qualifiers, and reaching the pinnacle in the hockey world – two World Cups (Argentina 2010 and The Netherlands 2014) and two Olympic Games (London 2012 and Rio 2016). In addition to her prowess as an official, Amy played collegiately at Northeastern University where she earned All-Conference (1993, 1994), All-Region (1993, 1994), and All-American honors (1993). She was named to the U.S. Women’s National Team but did not make the squad that moved into residency before the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games. She also had a brief stint in coaching, at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell from 1998-99, and at Northeastern in 2000.
The final 2024 Hall of Fame inductee to be honored was the late Dr. Christine Grant. It was fitting to have the first person to be inducted as a Contributor to be such a tireless advocate for both field hockey and women’s sports. Dr. Grant fought for gender equity her entire career and her contributions to and unwavering support of Title IX were instrumental in its adoption into law. Throughout her lifetime she empowered and inspired multiple generations of female student-athletes, educators, administrators and advocates for women in sport. Her love of field hockey led to the establishment of the intercollegiate team at the University of Iowa, and her constant advocacy was instrumental in the development and maintenance of the sport in both the Big Ten and the Midwest Collegiate Field Hockey Conferences, and in two countries, Canada and the United States.
After an incredible career and life, Dr. Grant passed away on Friday, December 31, 2021, at the age of 85. Former Iowa Field Hockey head coach and three-time Olympian Beth Belgin accepted the award on her behalf.
As an incredible night wound down, Chip Rogers – Assistant Coach at Miami University, USA Field Hockey Board of Directors, USA Field Hockey Men’s Foundation Director, U.S. Masters athlete, and field hockey “renaissance man” – stood up to give the last wish. He thanked all those being honored for all they have done, and for what they have done to get the next generation going.
USA Field Hockey would like to thank the U.S. Field Hockey Foundation for their support, effort, and planning for this year’s Hall of Fame celebration. Another thank you goes to the Hyatt Regency Westlake for hosting, the countless volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, and the USA Men’s Field Hockey Foundation. Thank you to AstroTurf, BeyondPulse and other sponsors for helping to make the night possible.
