Sports Spotlight on Top Scorer:
Lady Tiger Thea Parry-Childerley

by Judy Silberstein

Photo by Dave Blake: flashforwardphoto@yahoo.com

(October 30, 2003) It’s been an exciting, high-scoring season for the Mamaroneck Lady Tigers field hockey team, which finished its final game on Tuesday (See: Dream Season Comes to an End). In game after game, the team has racked up an impressive number of goals, often off the stick of senior left wing Thea Parry-Childerley.

“Thea has pounced upon the field hockey scene this season by leading the Lady Tigers in goals,” wrote Mamaroneck Athletic Director Dave McGuckin when Thea made MHS Athlete of the Week in September. By season’s end, in a heart-breaking, overtime loss to Lakeland on Tuesday, Thea had accumulated 21 goals, 3 “hat tricks” (three consecutive goals by the same player) and 3 assists.

Her performance has brought her much acclaim in the local sports pages, but she is quick to share credit with her teammates and to note the hard work they put in over the summer and the pre-season. “Thea has improved tremendously since last season,” wrote her coach John Savage for the Tiger web page. He pointed in particular to the teamwork between Thea and center forward Jeannie Goldfarb. “Thea and Jeannie are two of the top duos in our section,” he wrote.

Thea has had a number of years to work on her athletic skills, both in field hockey and soccer. For the past four years, she’s been bouncing between both sports, playing at the Junior Varsity and then the Varsity level for Mamaroneck. This Tuesday was the last hockey game, but before the year ends, she’ll be putting in considerable time on the soccer field with the Eastchester Patriot travel soccer team. There are several tournaments scheduled in November and the Orange Classic International Girls Soccer Tournament in December. Off the field, Thea will also continue her work with the VAASA program, in which athletes visit fifth graders to discuss the dangers of substance abuse.

Like many athlete-scholars at Mamaroneck High School, Thea’s week is packed. Her academic schedule includes both Advanced Placement European History and Fifth Year Chinese. Sports practice, play and leadership activities claim a major portion of extra-curricular time, but Thea manages to squeeze in artistic pursuits – dance and choreography with the PACE program and piano study with her long-term mentor Judi Brown.

What’s next for this active senior? As she applies to colleges for next year, Thea is looking for a supportive academic and athletic environment. Hockey sticks and soccer cleats are sure to be part of her higher education.