Temple University Athletics
Katie Gerzabek (right) recently completed her first season coaching at Temple
Photo by: Ken Light
Temple's Katie Gerzabek Makes U.S. Indoor Team Roster for 4 Nations Tournament in South Africa
12.9.15 | Field Hockey
PHILADELPHIA - Temple field hockey assistant coach Katie Gerzabek is one of 12 who have been selected from the U.S. Women's National Indoor Team roster to travel to Durban, South Africa, to compete in the SPAR 4 Nations Indoor Hockey Tournament from December 15-18.
"I am so excited and honored to have the opportunity to represent the United States on the international indoor field hockey scene," said Gerzabek. "Our squad has been working extremely hard throughout the summer and this fall to prepare for this 4 Nations Tournament. We cannot wait to get down to South Africa to compete against some of the best teams in the world."
Gerzabek, who joined the Temple staff this past summer, is a 2015 graduate of the University of Maryland where she was a four-year standout for the powerhouse Terrapins, capping her collegiate career with NFHCA Third Team All-America honors after also earning All-Big Ten Second Team accolades.
She was a member of both the U21 and U19 teams for USA Field Hockey, and competed in the Junior World Cup in Germany as a member of the U21 team in 2013. She also scored a goal as Team USA earned the bronze medal at the Junior Pan Am Games in Mexico in 2012.
"I'm proud of our staff's dedication to continually and passionately compete, learn, and grow through various hockey platforms," said Temple head coach Marybeth Freeman. "For Katie, being a natural competitor and highly dynamic field hockey player makes her a threat on this indoor team. I'm thrilled her hard work has paid off to put her in this position and I'm proud she will represent Temple while abroad. I know they will have a great showing during this tournament because of their training and enthusiasm to represent the USA in the most positive way possible."
Gerzabek, a native of Springfield, Pa., is returning to the U.S. Indoor Team after taking three years off. The team will be coached by Jun Kentwell, in her first year as the head coach, and she will be assisted by Meredith Long Civico. Physiologist Charles Edwards will also travel with the team.
Team USA, who finished third in the last Pan American Indoor Cup, will compete against International Hockey Federation (FIH) World Ranked teams at the SPAR 4 Nations Indoor Hockey Tournament including Australia (ranked 8th), South Africa (ranked 10th) and Namibia (ranked 17th). Australia and South Africa both competed in the 2015 FIH Indoor World Cup finishing 8th and 9th respectively.
"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to play teams of this caliber," commented Kentwell. "This is going to be a very strong test of our team and will show us the areas we need to improve. Most importantly, we learn from each game and use the experience to continue our development in preparation for the 2017 Pan Am Indoor Cup."
Team USA will play three pre-matches before competition gets underway on Tuesday, December 15. The pre-match schedule is Friday, December 11 against South Africa, Saturday, December 12 against Australia and Sunday, December 13 against Namibia.
SPAR 4 Nations Indoor Tournament Schedule:
Tuesday, December 15 Team USA vs. South Africa
Wednesday, December 16 Team USA vs. Namibia
Thursday, December 17 Team USA vs. Australia
Friday, December 18 Medal Rounds
Team USA will also be sending an umpire and a technical officer/judge to the tournament. Stephanie Judefind (Wilmington, Del.) will be the USA represented umpire and Kim Scott (Somerdale, N.J.) will be the technical officer/judge.
Follow the U.S. Women's National Indoor Team's progress at the SPAR 4 Nations Indoor Hockey Tournament by continually checking usafieldhockey.com.
"I am so excited and honored to have the opportunity to represent the United States on the international indoor field hockey scene," said Gerzabek. "Our squad has been working extremely hard throughout the summer and this fall to prepare for this 4 Nations Tournament. We cannot wait to get down to South Africa to compete against some of the best teams in the world."
Gerzabek, who joined the Temple staff this past summer, is a 2015 graduate of the University of Maryland where she was a four-year standout for the powerhouse Terrapins, capping her collegiate career with NFHCA Third Team All-America honors after also earning All-Big Ten Second Team accolades.
She was a member of both the U21 and U19 teams for USA Field Hockey, and competed in the Junior World Cup in Germany as a member of the U21 team in 2013. She also scored a goal as Team USA earned the bronze medal at the Junior Pan Am Games in Mexico in 2012.
"I'm proud of our staff's dedication to continually and passionately compete, learn, and grow through various hockey platforms," said Temple head coach Marybeth Freeman. "For Katie, being a natural competitor and highly dynamic field hockey player makes her a threat on this indoor team. I'm thrilled her hard work has paid off to put her in this position and I'm proud she will represent Temple while abroad. I know they will have a great showing during this tournament because of their training and enthusiasm to represent the USA in the most positive way possible."
Gerzabek, a native of Springfield, Pa., is returning to the U.S. Indoor Team after taking three years off. The team will be coached by Jun Kentwell, in her first year as the head coach, and she will be assisted by Meredith Long Civico. Physiologist Charles Edwards will also travel with the team.
Team USA, who finished third in the last Pan American Indoor Cup, will compete against International Hockey Federation (FIH) World Ranked teams at the SPAR 4 Nations Indoor Hockey Tournament including Australia (ranked 8th), South Africa (ranked 10th) and Namibia (ranked 17th). Australia and South Africa both competed in the 2015 FIH Indoor World Cup finishing 8th and 9th respectively.
"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to play teams of this caliber," commented Kentwell. "This is going to be a very strong test of our team and will show us the areas we need to improve. Most importantly, we learn from each game and use the experience to continue our development in preparation for the 2017 Pan Am Indoor Cup."
Team USA will play three pre-matches before competition gets underway on Tuesday, December 15. The pre-match schedule is Friday, December 11 against South Africa, Saturday, December 12 against Australia and Sunday, December 13 against Namibia.
SPAR 4 Nations Indoor Tournament Schedule:
Tuesday, December 15 Team USA vs. South Africa
Wednesday, December 16 Team USA vs. Namibia
Thursday, December 17 Team USA vs. Australia
Friday, December 18 Medal Rounds
Team USA will also be sending an umpire and a technical officer/judge to the tournament. Stephanie Judefind (Wilmington, Del.) will be the USA represented umpire and Kim Scott (Somerdale, N.J.) will be the technical officer/judge.
Follow the U.S. Women's National Indoor Team's progress at the SPAR 4 Nations Indoor Hockey Tournament by continually checking usafieldhockey.com.
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