Two Capital District Athletes Named to U.S. National Women’s Field Hockey Team

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Kelsey Briddell (Saratoga Springs HS ’14) and Carrie Hanks (Niskayuna HS ’14) were recently named to the 2021-2022 U.S. National Women’s Field Hockey Team. This marks the first time two local athletes have been selected to the national team. 

Briddell and Hanks were selected after a competitive try-out period involving inter-squad contests, two-a-day practices, strength and conditioning tests, and international competition. 

Briddell was a four-year standout at UAlbany (2018), playing a role as a freshman in the school’s first-ever Final Four appearance in the NCAA Division I National Championships. Hanks started every game in her four-year career at the University of Maryland and helped lead the Terrapins to the national championship game her senior year. 

The U.S. National Team recently concluded a four-game overseas schedule playing two games each against Belgium and defending 2016 Olympic champion Great Britain. Briddell earned her first “caps” in international competition, starting in three of those contests. Hanks, meanwhile, remained home working closely with the national team strength coach and physical therapist rehabbing from foot surgery; she had extensive international experience in 2019. 

Briddell and Hanks were both All-State high school field hockey athletes, as well as teammates, on the highly regarded ADK Club Team for several years. ADK – under the coaching of UAlbany head coach Phil Skyes, and his wife, Jean – has produced an extensive list of Division I field hockey athletes. 

The U.S. National Team is presently in Charlotte where they will continue training through December. The team will be traveling to Santiago, Chile in January followed by a European tour. 

Both Briddell and Hanks have trained at Saratoga Peak Performance under the direction of Kelsey’s father, Dr. Bryan Briddell. 

“Kelsey and Carrie are unquestionably two of the hardest-working athletes I’ve ever had the pleasure to train,” said Briddell. “What separates them from other hard-working athletes, however, it is their incredible focus and attention to detail. Both are intrinsically motivated and are always putting extra time in with their conditioning and stick skill. Their nutrition is impeccable, they get their required sleep, and they’re excellent at recovery strategies. You can’t ask for two more coachable athletes.”