National field hockey news source MAX Field Hockey announced that Chelsea Field Hockey’s Payton Doan is among the top 25 players to watch in the West/Mid-West Region for the 2017 High School season, as well as a top 150 “2019” Player to Watch in the nation.
Doan, a goalkeeper from Chelsea High School and two Midfield players from Huron High School in Ann Arbor represented Michigan in the top 25. Doan was one of only three goalkeepers to be selected. The West/Mid-West Region encompasses California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin.
“Payton is a skilled goalkeeper and was awarded a 2016 regional award and also earned First Team Division 1 in Michigan in 2015 and 2016,” says Chelsea Field Hockey Head Coach Leslie Fry. “In addition to her goalkeeper skills, she has been a team leader, both on and off the field since her freshman year.”
The National Field Hockey Coaches Association awarded Doan the 2016 Midwest Region Team award to which Fry refers. Doan was a key element on Chelsea Field Hockey’s 2015 Division 1 Championship team that also earned State Championship Runner-Up. She starred in goal for her team getting 15 wins and 11 shutouts as a freshman in only her third year of playing competitive field hockey.
Since 2014, Doan has also been competing with Pinnacle Field Hockey, an Ann Arbor-based club team. She has also been instrumental in the club achieving a top 20 U16 national ranking by the USA Field Hockey Association.
“Payton’s positivity and encouragement have allowed her teammates to work toward achieving their full potential on the field,” adds Chelsea Field Hockey Varsity Coach Casey Fry.
Doan not only excels on the field but off as she has a 3.96-grade point average (out of a possible 4.0) and will be applying for National Honor Society in the Spring. She also not only captains her field hockey team, she is Student Council Junior Class President at her school, plays JV Tennis, does Link crew, and is in Key Club.
“To be named to the Players to Watch List really puts my field hockey career in perspective,” the young goalkeeper stated happily. “My name is on that list because of all of my incredibly talented club and high school coaches and teammates, and the entire field hockey community who love the sport enough to inspire others to be the best they can be. My coaches and teammates, both high school and club, continuously support, push, and grow my love for the game, so it is to them that I owe the thanks for my name on those lists.”
For more information on Chelsea Field Hockey, go to chelseafieldhockey.org.
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