A milestone in Pioneer High School sports -- and women’s athletics in general -- occurred 50 years ago with the debut of the Panthers’ field hockey team.
To mark the occasion, the field hockey program will host a special Alumni Game at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 12, at noon, with all former players invited to take part. The Homecoming Weekend activity will be followed by a reception at the field.
For more information, visit 50 Years of PCS FH on Facebook.
Current field hockey coach Jana Landahl is also a former team manager and player. She is in the final year of coaching (and teaching Health), having taken over 33 years ago. She is retiring later this school year.
ABOVE: Pioneer Field Hockey had a magical season in 2003, finishing among the top 4 in the state in its class.
Mrs. Landahl said the program has had its highs and lows over a half-century. She guided her 2003 team to the state’s final four in Syracuse (still the highest team achievement for Pioneer athletics), and more recently coached the 2018 squad to a Section 6 title.
With a half-century under its belt, Pioneer field hockey has grown and matured, with the addition of a junior varsity level, as well as a modified team for grades 7-8.
“The players come to the varsity sport with much more experience than ever before. And we have our kids in off-season opportunities to improve their game,” Mrs. Landahl said.
Valerie Relyea -- “the mother of Pioneer field hockey” according to Mrs. Landahl -- was fresh out of college and starting a job teaching health at Pioneer in 1969. Although field hockey was not her primary sport, she saw the limited number of competitive sports for girls and decided to take action. Other early sports for PCS girls included cheerleading, synchronized swimming, and gymnastics.
Mrs. Relyea credited former athletic director Robert “Buzz” Chaddock for lending strong support. “He helped us get field hockey going as a club sport, then by 1971-72 we were playing games that counted in the league standings,” she said.
From field hockey, the choices for women’s sports grew dramatically in the mid 1970s, aided by the Title IX federal civil rights law (1972). Soon basketball emerged, followed by swimming, track & field, volleyball, and softball. Later, Pioneer girls played tennis, golf, air rifle, bowling, cross country, and indoor track.
Mrs. Relyea said she is looking forward to seeing her former players at the Alumni Game on October 12.