Hill Girls Hockey in a league of their own: Hill Girls’ Hockey leaves WILMHA for better opportunities
As of this season, and after more than 10 years and two championships, Hill Girls Hockey has left the Women’s Interscholastic Hockey League of the Mid-Atlantic or the WIHLMA. The team is not currently part of another league but will maintain its status as an associate member of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) in order to focus its gameplay toward more competitive boarding schools in the Northeast according to Head Coach Ari Baum.
“It just didn’t make sense for us to continue in that league. There were just too many games in it where the competition isn’t appropriate,” said Baum. “I would not support our team playing games where we would win by 15 goals and get on a bus when we would sometimes have to miss classes.”
With this change, the team will no longer be eligible for any championship. Being the only sport that competes regularly with NEPSAC teams, Hill Hockey is only allowed an associate membership which does not include the opportunity to qualify for their league finals, Baum explained.
Four-year player and captain Liz MacMurray ’20 said that this change is the “one thing I’m kind of sad about this season. When you win a championship, nothing beats it. It’s one of the best feelings you can get in sports.” H
However, MacMurray also expressed anticipation for facing new teams.
“Yes, it’s going to be a bummer [not being in a league], but I think we can get the same satisfaction by beating teams we’ve never beaten before,” said MacMurray.
Hill Girls Hockey is following a model Lawrenceville has already embraced by not participating in any one league. Baum cited attempts to start a league with the rival team which would include schools like Shadyside, Gilmour, and Culver. However, Lawrenceville has not reciprocated this interest.
Hill will still play Hoosac and Portledge as well as the aforementioned Culver and Shadyside during the school’s first annual tournament at the end of the season.
“We owe it to the players to be challenged, and I think the schedule or league change is just a part of that,” said Baum. With a record of 3-1-2, the Lady Blues take home-ice on December 18, 2019 and next on January 19, 2020 against Portledge Academy and Canterbury respectively.
