Athletes Excel at 2025 AAU Junior Olympic Games
HOUSTON, Texas – After four days on the turf at Episcopal High School in Houston, Texas, field hockey at the 2025 AAU Junior Olympic Games has concluded.
The AAU Junior Olympic Games is known as the largest multi-sport event for youth in the United States, providing athletes the opportunity to experience an Olympic-like, multi-sport competition while enjoying the camaraderie and inspiration from top athletes in other featured sports. This year’s field hockey fun featured a U-16 Girls and Boys Hockey5s divisions.
The U-16 Girls division grew this year, from six teams to eight teams, and reflected a change in the AAU Junior Olympics Games pathway and selection process. This past spring, USA Field Hockey made the strategic decision to change the advancement pathway for girls to the AAU Junior Olympic Games. To create more opportunity for individual athletes, a spot at the Junior Olympics was earned through advancement from Regional Selection Camps as a Nexus participation. At the conclusion of all five Nexus Regional Selections Camps, USA Field Hockey announced both those selected to the Nexus Championship and the AAU Junior Olympics Games.
The eight Girls teams were split into two pools of four, where they played two teams once and the other two teams twice. The two teams that finished first in their respective pools battled it out on the final day to see who would be crowned champion.
Continuing off the success of last year’s inaugural group, the Boys Hockey5s division again brought attention to the fast-paced world of Hockey5s and the inclusion of Boys field hockey in the United States. This year’s installment featured five teams, who played a round-robin style tournament, facing each time twice, and using the pool standings to be seeded for the final day of competition.
Including Boys in the Hockey5s format is part of the ongoing efforts to promote and grow field hockey for boys nationally leading into the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. At the 2025 AUU Junior Olympic Games, boys from across the country were able to showcase their field hockey skills in a competitive and fun environment.
USA Field Hockey would like to thank all the athletes, coaches, coach educators, umpires and technical staff for an action-packed few days, as well as congratulate the following teams who medaled in this year's competition!
Boys Hockey5s#
First Place: Hope
Coach: Malik Muzammel
Second Place: Courage
Coach: Sanjay Kodali
Third Place: Loyalty
Coach: Pasindu Wanigasooriya
Joel Ferrell Memorial Award Winner: Pablo Cerda
Girls#
First Place: Pride
Coach: Hannah Fisher
Second Place: Believe
Coach: Brittney Randolph
Third Place: Liberty
Coach: Kerrie Burns
Joel Ferrell Memorial Award Winner: Richelle Rebman
All photographs appearing on this site are property of USA Field Hockey & Michael Tollestrup.