Senior Spotlight: Alyssa Whitman

Alyssa Whitman was the lone senior on the 2011 Saucon Valley field hockey team, and when asked what that was like she responded: "Oh, now it is me!" She said she liked the challenge of providing leadership, and even had her younger sister as a teammate.

First year head coach Phil Danaher had this to say of his senior team member:

"Alyssa stepped up as the only senior and took the reigns of an extremely young and inexperienced varsity squad. Her leadership and determination was clearly evident, as the team continued to get stronger as the season wore on. Pushing the top two teams in the conference to the brink of defeat during the final week of the season, Alyssa's work ethic and intensity were outstanding and inspiring for the team. She will do well next year at the collegiate level."

Alyssa began playing field hockey as a freshman and by the end of that season she was playing forward on the varsity team. She continued to improve her skills at the Bloomsburg Field Hockey Camp during the last three summers. This four-day camp was a great experience, she said, and provided her the opportunity to bond with her fellow Panther teammates.

An inspiring moment for Alyssa occurred after the second Solehi game on Oct. 11, 2011, when the highly regarded Spartan head coach, Adrienne Searfoss, took time to comment on how well the Panther team had played. Her compliment sent a message to the Panther team that they can indeed play with the best. Neither the Panthers nor the Spartans had scored in the first half, and the Spartans had to rally late in the second half to win the game 3-1.  

In addition to field hockey, Alyssa will again play forward for Panther head soccer coach, Stevie Ochsie, in the spring. She has been playing soccer since she was in kindergarten and was a member of the Saucon Valley travel team as a middle school student. She said going to the state semi-finals in June 2010 was a soccer highlight she will never forget, although the team's double overtime loss 1-0 against Trinity still stings.

Alyssa's favorite subjects are science and English. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Yearbook staff, Spotlight Unganda and the school's Spirit Club, "Slip 'n Slide."

Her future plan is to play field hockey at a Division III school such as Dickinson College, the University of Scranton, Ursinus College or Drew University, which is where her former Panther teammate and friend Melissa Boyd is enrolled.

Alyssa likes sports and enjoys competition. Although not a great disc golf player, she likes to caddy for her friends who play the South Mountain Course. She likes macaroni and cheese and has two adorable "teddy bear" dogs, Calvin and Oliver.

Alyssa has two younger siblings, Kyla and Griffin, and is the daughter of Rich and Michelle Whitman.