August 22, 2007

Britney Sedberry transfers, Abbey Woolley to coach

By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist


We're just a couple weeks away from the start of another high school sports season. This is also a good time to catch up with some of the former Raiders. So, let's go!

Brittany Sedberry, the greatest runner in Cape-Atlantic League history, was unable to overcome the variety of injuries that limited her participation the last three seasons of high school and has transferred from Duke University to LaSalle University, where she will swim. Sedberry had a successful swimming season at OCHS before she switched to indoor track. There are those who believe that her injury situation might have been eased had she stayed with swimming in the winter and given her body a change of pace.
But you cannot argue about what she accomplished as a Raider - three South Jersey championships and two victories in the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in cross country; four South Jersey titles in girls track, two state titles and a win in the 3200 meters in the Meet of Champions. She came within three seconds of doubling in the MOC, losing to Southern Regional star Danielle Tauro by that margin in the 1600.
The fact that she could compete, when healthy, at a Division I level in three sports shows just how talented an athlete she is.

Another former OCHS great, Abbey Woolley, was named assistant field hockey coach at Louisville University. Woolley was a member of the United States National Team from 2002-05, scoring four international goals. Woolley is currently a head coach for the International Field Hockey Club of Kentucky. She has been involved in the coaching community since 2003, serving as a coach in the USA Field Hockey Futures Olympic Development Program, providing instruction on basic skills and strategy to young players in several states.
Woolley also enjoyed a successful career at the University of North Carolina from 1998-2001. During her time there, the Tar Heels earned four NCAA tournament bids and finished as national runner-up in 2000. Woolley was a National Field Hockey Coaches Association second team All-American and earned NFHCA South Region and All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2001. She graduated from North Carolina in 2002 with a Bachelor's degree in communications. In 2004, Woolley returned as a volunteer assistant for the Tar Heels and helped guide them to the ACC championship.
"I'm really excited to be a part of the flourishing athletics of U of L," said Woolley. "The hockey team is on the brink of greatness and I hope to contribute all that I can to help get them there. Pam Bustin is an amazing coach and full of energy and it will be a wonderful experience to be working with her again, this time from the sidelines."
Bustin coached Woolley when she played on the Under-20 National Team. According to the Louisville website, Woolley's duties will include assisting with practice and game day preparation while developing the skill and movement of the attack and working with the attack penalty corner strikers. She will also be involved in recruiting and the development of youth field hockey within the community.
At OCHS, Woolley scored a school record 41 goals in 1997, leading the Raiders to their very first South Jersey and state championship. She was named OCHS Player of the Century in field hockey and has been selected to the Ocean City All-Sports Hall of Fame, though her schedule has delayed her induction.

Kyle Evans, who had a great summer for the Ocean City Barons, earning selection to the PDL Team of the Week at the end of the regular season, will get some more national exposure this season. Lehigh, where Evans is a sophomore, will play Bucknell on Nov. 2 and that game will be carried on the Fox Soccer Channel, which is available on Comcast and most satellite systems. Evans had three goals and a team-leading seven assists for Lehigh last year. The Mountain Hawks open their season Sept. 1 against Drexel. Many Lehigh games can be seen or heard online through the college website, LehighSports.com.

Dan Bonato is making an impact with the University of Maryland football team. According to the team's website, on Sunday Bonato "had a busy day, carrying the ball a scrimmage-high 23 times for 77 yards and the offense's first touchdown of the day. His one-yard plunge capped off a 7-play, 78-yard drive by the second team offense." Bonato, a three-sport athlete at OCHS, is a walk-on at Maryland, which opens its season on Sept. 1 at home against Villanova. He will probably red shirt this season.

Also making an impact in pre-season is freshman A.J. Harris at Elon University. He has scored two long touchdowns in scrimmages for The Phoenix. Harris is the fifth leading career rusher, sixth leading scorer and eighth leading pass receiver in OCHS history. Elon opens its schedule on Sept. 8 at home against West Virginia Wesleyan.

Throughout the school year, The Gazette will have more updates on former OCHS athletes in our Alumni Notebook.



Read more of Tom Williams' columns