POCOMOKE- Former Pocomoke High School field hockey standout Taylor West, who was part of four straight state championship teams for the Warriors, has been named to Team USA after U.S. Women’s National Team Trials last month.
West, who starred at Pocomoke under late Coach Susan Pusey and won four state championships during her time at the Worcester County school, was one of six new players named to the U.S. Women’s National Team. The six players performed well at the trials in January and will now head to the team’s training complex in Pennsylvania.
The U.S. Women’s National Team roster is set for the Summer Olympics in Rio in 2016. The six new players will join the team following the Summer Olympics and begin training for the Pan American Cup next year and beyond.
“Each of the players demonstrated some excellent qualities throughout the trials,” said U.S. Women’s National Team Coach Craig Parnham. “The trial is designed to identify strengths across a range of attributes. The selected players were able to display their proficiency during the trial and now have the opportunity to continue to grow and develop as part of the U.S. Women’s National Team’s central program as it builds toward the 2017 Pan American Cup.”
At Pocomoke, West was part of the Warriors’ four-year run as state champions from 2007 to 2010. She was named to the USA Field Hockey under-19 Junior National Team and the Futures Elite team. West was also named First-Team All-American while at Pocomoke.
After graduating from Pocomoke, West moved on to James Madison University where the accolades continued to pile up. While at Madison, West was named Second-Team All-American and earned Colonial Conference Player of the Year honors last year. West was also named to the All Colonial Conference First Team last year. West learned she had been chosen to the U.S. Women’s National Team following the trials last month.
“I’m not sure that there are words to describe the excitement I had when I received the email to join the team,” she said this week. “It is an honor to be amongst such an elite group of athletes and a dream come true to represent the USA.”
West had high praise for her coaches and mentors along with way, from Pocomoke to James Madison.
“Throughout my career, I have had the best support system of family, friends, coaches and teammates that have helped me achieve this dream. To reach this point has taken dedication, countless hours of training on and off the field as well as a love and passion for the game.”