2026 All Starz Winter Invitational Concludes
Determination. Strength. Perseverance. Talent. Friendship. Growth. Community.
USA Field Hockey’s fourth annual All Starz Winter Invitational was held this past weekend at Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim, Pa. Able Athletics, Long Island All Starz, and PA Revs all participated, welcoming Individual registrants to join their teams for the tournament. Athletes and coaches had a great time competing and were supported by hundreds of cheering fans.
All Starz is USA Field Hockey’s inclusive adaptive hockey program, welcoming athletes of all abilities to friendly competition. The All Starz program is led by USA Field Hockey’s Sport Development Manager, Laura Jones, and a volunteer leadership committee made up of Melissa Ponzio (Chair), Alexa Bracco, Julia Page, Lydia Smeltz, Meg Kutz, and Vanessa Dias.
The All Starz Winter Invitational is a dedicated event for field hockey athletes who need accommodation to access the game. Games were played on an indoor court with modified rules, allowing maximum accessibility for these athletes. The event is a showcase of the hard work these teams put in all year. Several athletes have been playing every year since the Winter Invitational’s inception in 2022.
All Starz is only possible because of the dedicated clubs and coaches who train athletes and support their teams traveling to compete at the event. Travel play is something many teams take for granted, but is not always available to athletes with disabilities. The All Starz teams create the opportunity for these athletes to grow, learn, and succeed.
Coach and parent Meg Kutz has seen firsthand the benefit of sport for everyone, as her daughter Maggie Kutz, a member of the PA Revs club, became the first NCAA field hockey athlete with Down Syndrome. Meg continues to support All Starz through the PA Revs and All Starz programs.
The games are staffed by coaches and a cadre of volunteers who help make the event successful and possible. A huge thank you to the all the volunteers who came out in force. A special acknowledgment for the contributions of the following people:
Cris Maloney | Caitlin Cavanaugh (Sparkle) |
Harper Ey (Sparkle’s Handler) | Emily Aynardi (peer play in) |
Olivia Miller (peer play in) | Stella Smith (peer play in) |
Shellie Behrens (volunteer expert) | Brad Loff (Sportz Wire Photographer) |
Maggie Kutz (Photographer) | Next Level Video photographers & videographers |
Jeanne O’Brien (Umpire coordinator) | Lindsay Jackson (Co-head coach for inaugural 2026 FIH Para Hockey World Cup) |
Dias, Rowan Dias, Chris Dias, and Dom Ponzio from Able Athletics | |
USA Field Hockey and All Starz would like to also acknowledge Steve Wagner, 1996 Atlanta Olympian, who was an outstanding volunteer. Wagner played goalkeeper for the final game, only giving up one goal to a blind athlete using a modified ball. Wagner shook hands with every athlete as they received their medals.
Additionally, a special shoutout to Coach Brit Paulus from Able Athletics, whose enthusiasm for the game brought joy and fun to all involved.
Thank you to all the umpires who volunteered their time to officiate at the All Starz Winter Invitational. The All Starz athletes and coaches gave the umpires compliments such as “much improved” and “best ever”, attributed some to the fact that there was more rigidity in the calling of penalties. Thank you to the following umpires:
Judy Bryant | Kim Buehler |
Brooke Dixon | Samantha Earle |
Belle Fields | Chad Goodnight |
Eli Hardman | Arianna Hughart |
Greg Newman | Emma O'Neil |
Christina Pastor | Kendra Pitts |
Jeff Ricardo | Ciana Ricardo |
Doreen Taylor | Byrn Underwood |
Cassandra Watts |
Thank you to the following USA Field Hockey Staff:
Ginger Wheeler (Commercial Partnership and Marketing Manager)
Teryn Brill Galloway (Director of Communications)
Dasha Gorokhova (Events and Club Services Manager)
Kelly Angeletti (Events and Club Services Sr. Manager)
Next Up for All Starz:
Fundraising and athlete recruitment begins for the inaugural 2026 FIH Para Hockey World Cup! This historic event will be a 6-a-side tournament played at HC Myra in Amstelveen, Netherlands, and Louvain-La-Neuve HC, in Belgium, from August 21 to 25, 2026. Click here to learn more about trying out for the team. The USA Field Hockey Foundation will kick off its fundraising campaign soon.
All Starz is looking to expand! If you are interested in disability inclusion in any format, USA Field Hockey, the All Starz Leadership Team, and current All Starz program leaders are ready and willing to support you. Email ljones@usafieldhockey.com to get started.
USA Field Hockey will be doing an All Starz presentation and hands-on demo for leaders at the Move United Education Conference, happening April 20 to 22, 2026 in Hyannis, Mass.
