Cathy McGuirk conducting practice during 2011 season with her assistant and husband John

Two local field hockey legends, Branford coach Cathy McGuirk and Haddam-Killingworth coach Patsy Kamercia, are about to reach major milestones in their illustrious coaching careers.
McGuirk is 10 wins away from career-win 500 as she enters the season with a 490-101-62-9 career record.
“I have had so much fun and learned so much coaching field hockey,” McGuirk said. “The best part has been all the great kids I have coached and now so many of their daughters.
“Lucky me, not to mention coaching so many years with my best friend and now husband of 45 years (John McGuirk). That’s another milestone.”
Branford opens the season on Tuesday at Southern Connecticut Conference rival Hand at 7 p.m.

Patsy Kamercia

Kamercia, who led her team to the CIAC Class S title last season, is one win away from career-win 400. She enters the season with a 399-159-81 career record.
Last season Kamercia retired after 41 years as an HK physical education teacher and decided to return one more season to coach field hockey to get the milestone.
Kamercia was selected the Register All-Area Field Hockey coach of the year last season and was inducted to the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame last November.
Kamercia gets her first crack at No. 400 in the Cougars’ season-opener on Tuesday at home against Canton at 4:15 p.m.

Two of Connecticut’s most outstanding high school seniors were honored with distinguished recognition as state winners of the 2011 Wendy’s High School Heisman Award. Jennifer Mears of Rockville in Vernon and Christopher Madaffari of McMahon in Norwalk will now go on to compete for the national award that celebrates their hard work, dedication and exceptional records in athletics, academics and community leadership.

Mears and Madaffari were chosen from 48,000 applicants, surviving rounds that narrowed contenders to one male and one female winner from each school, and then to Connecticut’s respected group of 20 state finalists. The area finalists are listed below:

Matthew Aspinwall - Foran
Elia D’Onofrio - Derby
Matthew Moutinho - Woodland
Samuel Poryanda - Branford
Yuning Zhang - Guilford

http://www.casciac.org

Branford field hockey coach Cathy McGuirk is on the verge of getting career-win 450 and it could happen today in the team's season opener.
Branford travels to North Branford for a 3:45 p.m. game and faces a very strong Thunderbirds' team.
McGuirk, whose teams have won 10 CIAC Class M championships, enters the game with a career record of 449-89-57-4.