Centreville Field Hockey Player Joins Olympic Team

Claire Laubach, a Centreville native, will represent the United States in the 2012 Olympic Games for field hockey.

According to her profile on the Team USA Web site, Laubach graduated from in 2001. She then attended Wake Forest University and her team was NCAA National Champions from 2002-2005.

Laubach began playing field hockey in 1998 and officially joined the USA National Team in 2005. She did not make the 2008 Beijing Olympic team and returned to the development squad, but returned as one of the leading scorers on the national team in 2011. She is a defender.

The U.S. Olympic team has 16 team members on the roster. It is currently ranked number 10 in the world but, according to the Team USA Web site, a recent win against Argentina in the final of the 2011 Pan American Games leaves the team hopeful that a medal is possible this summer.

According to a July 10 U.S. Olympic Committee press release, the U.S. team is made up of 530 members. It will compete in 25 spots and 245 of the 302 medal events. Out of 530 members, 228 are returning contenders.

Another Northern Virginian, an athlete from Annandale, will also compete in London this summer. this year to compete on the men’s rowing team.

The Olympic games will begin July 27.