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Only a freshman at Wilson High School, Anna Abboud has already accomplished a great deal in her young field hockey career.
On Jan. 15, USA Field Hockey announced its U-16, U-18, and U-21 Junior U.S. Women’s National Teams, with Abboud earning a spot on the under 16 roster, adding to her growing list of accomplishments.
“I was pretty nervous all week leading up to when the selections came out,” Abboud said. “I thought I played pretty well, but then again, there were a lot of competitive girls there with a lot of skill. I was just trying to stay calm, put belief in my skills, and hope for the best.”
Abboud’s hard work and skill earned her a spot as one of 31 players selected for the U-16 squad, giving her the opportunity to make April’s travel roster following next month’s training camp, scheduled for Feb. 13-15 at the University of North Carolina.
To make the team, Abboud attended a three-day Selection Camp tryout from Jan. 9-11 at UNC, where she joined about 60 of the nation’s top field hockey players competing for a spot on the initial roster.
The camp featured drill-based practices, game-like situations, and instruction from a group of coaches that included head coach Tamara Durante and assistant coaches Will Byrne, Alan Good, John Griffin, and Hannah Prince.
The travel rosters typically include up to 18 players and two reserves. If Abboud makes the cut, she’ll be placed on either the Red or Blue roster.
“Anna works really hard year-round on field hockey,” Wilson coach Kim Underwood said. “She puts in a lot of time and effort throughout the year, whether it’s with her high school team or her club team in the U.S. pipeline. I’m super excited for her to see the results of all the time and energy she’s invested to reach this level.”
The U-16 Red roster will compete in four games at the 4 Nations Tournament held at HOD Valkenswaard in Valkenswaard, Netherlands, while the U-16 Blue roster will play four games in the 6 Nations Tournament in Tonbridge, England. Both squads will face international competition from March 30 to April 7.
“I’m really excited,” Abboud said, with training camp up next. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m definitely going to keep practicing, keep my touch warm, and just go out there and give it all I have.”
Anna is a three-sport athlete in her freshman year at Wilson, playing basketball in the winter and lacrosse in the spring.
This past fall, the Bulldogs midfielder scored 18 goals and recorded eight assists, earning Class 3A Second Team All-State honors, as recognized by the Pennsylvania High School Field Hockey Coaches Association.
Even as a freshman, Abboud made an immediate impact, helping Wilson finish as the Berks County runner-up in her first year.
“We had a great group of seniors and great leaders who brought her in and made her feel as comfortable as possible,” Underwood said. “Right off the bat, they recognized the skill she brought to the table and were excited to have her as part of the program.”
“We don’t focus so much on what grade or year a player is in; it’s more about what they’re capable of doing on the field,” Underwood said. “That’s the mindset our entire team has. We have 40 of us strong who all find their role and their value. Anna brought a lot of skill to the table, as well as some grit on the field, and she did a great job in the middle for us this year.”
Underwood’s words carry weight, as she has coached plenty of talented players who have come through the halls of Wilson.
Over the past five seasons, the Bulldogs have produced eight First Team All-State honorees, including Sophie Wilchek, Macy Adams, and Sidni Templeton in 2025.
On the national stage, Underwood has now coached six players who have gone on to make the Junior U.S. Women’s National Team.
Those names include Chrissy Davidson, who played at UConn and now serves as a coach there; Erika Culp and Catherine Arentz, who both play at St. Joseph’s University; and Underwood’s daughters, Bryn and Reagan, who went on to play at American University and Liberty University, respectively.
“Just seeing them all compete at such a high level and watching these kids put in the time and commitment has been super impressive,” Underwood said.
Training camp is two weeks away, and Abboud will continue to practice and fine-tune her skills in hopes of making the travel squad.
With many athletes confident in their performances and the work they’ve put in so far, earning a spot on the roster won’t be easy.
Underwood noted that being coachable, maintaining good communication, demonstrating a solid work ethic, and showcasing effective re-defending skills are all key factors in making the roster.
She also emphasized what an incredible opportunity this is for Abboud, not only now, but for the long-term growth of her field hockey career.
“I think for her, it’s just a matter of going into these next steps, taking in every moment, realizing that everything is a blessing. Getting to have the opportunity to play alongside the best players in the country at every chance she gets, and then if she gets a chance to travel, that’s an added bonus. Being able to be there and train with high-level coaches, high-level players, is going to not only excel her game, but also just create some amazing memories for her.”
Continue reading...
On Jan. 15, USA Field Hockey announced its U-16, U-18, and U-21 Junior U.S. Women’s National Teams, with Abboud earning a spot on the under 16 roster, adding to her growing list of accomplishments.
“I was pretty nervous all week leading up to when the selections came out,” Abboud said. “I thought I played pretty well, but then again, there were a lot of competitive girls there with a lot of skill. I was just trying to stay calm, put belief in my skills, and hope for the best.”
Abboud’s hard work and skill earned her a spot as one of 31 players selected for the U-16 squad, giving her the opportunity to make April’s travel roster following next month’s training camp, scheduled for Feb. 13-15 at the University of North Carolina.
To make the team, Abboud attended a three-day Selection Camp tryout from Jan. 9-11 at UNC, where she joined about 60 of the nation’s top field hockey players competing for a spot on the initial roster.
The camp featured drill-based practices, game-like situations, and instruction from a group of coaches that included head coach Tamara Durante and assistant coaches Will Byrne, Alan Good, John Griffin, and Hannah Prince.
The travel rosters typically include up to 18 players and two reserves. If Abboud makes the cut, she’ll be placed on either the Red or Blue roster.
“Anna works really hard year-round on field hockey,” Wilson coach Kim Underwood said. “She puts in a lot of time and effort throughout the year, whether it’s with her high school team or her club team in the U.S. pipeline. I’m super excited for her to see the results of all the time and energy she’s invested to reach this level.”
The U-16 Red roster will compete in four games at the 4 Nations Tournament held at HOD Valkenswaard in Valkenswaard, Netherlands, while the U-16 Blue roster will play four games in the 6 Nations Tournament in Tonbridge, England. Both squads will face international competition from March 30 to April 7.
“I’m really excited,” Abboud said, with training camp up next. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m definitely going to keep practicing, keep my touch warm, and just go out there and give it all I have.”
Anna is a three-sport athlete in her freshman year at Wilson, playing basketball in the winter and lacrosse in the spring.
This past fall, the Bulldogs midfielder scored 18 goals and recorded eight assists, earning Class 3A Second Team All-State honors, as recognized by the Pennsylvania High School Field Hockey Coaches Association.
Even as a freshman, Abboud made an immediate impact, helping Wilson finish as the Berks County runner-up in her first year.
“We had a great group of seniors and great leaders who brought her in and made her feel as comfortable as possible,” Underwood said. “Right off the bat, they recognized the skill she brought to the table and were excited to have her as part of the program.”
“We don’t focus so much on what grade or year a player is in; it’s more about what they’re capable of doing on the field,” Underwood said. “That’s the mindset our entire team has. We have 40 of us strong who all find their role and their value. Anna brought a lot of skill to the table, as well as some grit on the field, and she did a great job in the middle for us this year.”
Underwood’s words carry weight, as she has coached plenty of talented players who have come through the halls of Wilson.
Over the past five seasons, the Bulldogs have produced eight First Team All-State honorees, including Sophie Wilchek, Macy Adams, and Sidni Templeton in 2025.
On the national stage, Underwood has now coached six players who have gone on to make the Junior U.S. Women’s National Team.
Those names include Chrissy Davidson, who played at UConn and now serves as a coach there; Erika Culp and Catherine Arentz, who both play at St. Joseph’s University; and Underwood’s daughters, Bryn and Reagan, who went on to play at American University and Liberty University, respectively.
“Just seeing them all compete at such a high level and watching these kids put in the time and commitment has been super impressive,” Underwood said.
Training camp is two weeks away, and Abboud will continue to practice and fine-tune her skills in hopes of making the travel squad.
With many athletes confident in their performances and the work they’ve put in so far, earning a spot on the roster won’t be easy.
Underwood noted that being coachable, maintaining good communication, demonstrating a solid work ethic, and showcasing effective re-defending skills are all key factors in making the roster.
She also emphasized what an incredible opportunity this is for Abboud, not only now, but for the long-term growth of her field hockey career.
“I think for her, it’s just a matter of going into these next steps, taking in every moment, realizing that everything is a blessing. Getting to have the opportunity to play alongside the best players in the country at every chance she gets, and then if she gets a chance to travel, that’s an added bonus. Being able to be there and train with high-level coaches, high-level players, is going to not only excel her game, but also just create some amazing memories for her.”
Continue reading...
