Copyright Hartford Courant
AVON – When Kaylie Murphy first came to a field hockey practice as a freshman, Avon coach Terri Ziemnicki didn’t know what to expect. Murphy has autism and had never played the sport before, but she had run track in middle school and competed in the Special Olympics. Wednesday was Senior Day for the Avon field hockey team. Murphy, who is one of the team’s captains, was announced with the other seniors and walked through a tunnel of sticks held up by the other players with her parents and other relatives. She participated in pre-game drills. She played in the junior varsity game and started in the varsity game before another player subbed in for her. “She went from her freshman year sitting on the sidelines, just by herself with her aide and now she’s participating in all the drills,” Ziemnicki said. “Not only has she grown because of it, the program has grown, the players on the team have grown – it’s affected all of us. It’s made us all better people.” During Murphy’s freshman year, Ziemnicki subbed her into a game that Avon was winning 5-0 and the opponent, East Catholic – in a gracious show of sportsmanship – allowed Murphy to score a goal. Since then, Murphy has improved to where she can play in the entire JV game. “I had heard a lot of great things about this program, so that’s what drew me to it,” said her mother, Michelle Murphy. “I wasn’t sure what was going to happen but it was more than I ever expected and I’m very grateful for it.” Murphy and another captain, senior Kathryn Martin, have been friends and teammates since middle school. “Freshman to senior year, she has grown into a very independent woman,” Martin said. “She’s always been able to do everything she’s put her mind to but now she’s very independent, she knows what she wants – Coach Z has definitely pushed that upon us, to be assertive in life. “We’re fortunate to be a conference that has great teams that foster sportsmanship and inclusion. In any game, we’re lucky to have girls who are our opponents that are respectful and acknowledge the importance of having Kaylie have a chance in the game.” Murphy has limited verbal skills. “You say, ‘Kaylie, hit the ball,’ She’ll say, ‘Kaylie, hit the ball,’ and then she’ll hit it,” Ziemnicki said. “She understands what you’re saying.” Murphy also runs indoor track and plays lacrosse at Avon. “She has learned so much,” Michelle said. “The coaches, the players, the community, the culture of field hockey has helped her in the area she shines the most, which is athletics and sports and physical activity. She learned so much independence; her confidence has grown, but she’s been given the chance to do so. “It’s a blessing for her to have this. Making lifelong friends. She’s not non-verbal but she has limited verbal but we know by her behaviors that she loves to be here every day.” Lily Anderson has played field hockey and lacrosse with Murphy for four years. “I feel like just having Kaylie on the team really helps the environment and makes it more fun,” Anderson said. “If you’re having a bad day, she’s always here with a smile on her face, laughing, she’s such a good person to talk to. “When we were underclassmen, she wouldn’t do the drills – all of them – she wouldn’t do the running as much but this year, she does everything, she’s improved so much.” Murphy wanted to be a captain, so she had to apply for the position and be interviewed like everybody else at Avon High. Instead of writing something, she made a poster explaining why she should be named a captain. “If this could help one other person like Kaylie, maybe it will show coaches, ‘Yeah, you want to have a winning season and whatever,’” Ziemnicki said. “But the life lessons you learn through athletics have been times 10 having Kaylie on the team.” On the field, it’s been a rough season for Avon, which has a young team. The Falcons, who beat Suffield 2-0 Wednesday, have only won three games and need to win their last two games to get into the Class M state tournament. Ziemnicki, who has coached at Avon for almost 40 years, has never had a field hockey team not make it to the tournament. Still, Ziemnicki is feeling grateful, no matter the outcome of the season. “This season been so gratifying in so many ways, because of the life lessons learned,” she said.
