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BLOOMSBURG- The 2002 season was one to remember for Bloomsburg University field hockey star Sheila Zilinski. A first-team All-American, the Honda Division II Collegiate Woman Field Hockey Athlete of the Year, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) field hockey athlete of the year, fieldhockey.com Division II Women's Player of the Year, an Eastern College Athletic Conference Division II all-star, and was named to the PSAC Fall Top 10 academic team. And that's just the icing on the cake, because she also led her team to a NCAA Division II National Championship. All of this hard work and dedication to a sport, and she still manages to play lacrosse and was named All-PSAC second team offense scoring 29 goals and 7 assists in the 2002 season. Oh yeah, she also manages a 3.57 GPA.

With a trophy case full of awards for both academics and athletics, and a national championship under her belt, this Bloomsburg University field hockey standout wants to start 2003 off in grand style. Zilinski was recently named to the United States national women's U23 "A" camp, and is just one step away from being a part of the U23 team. The U23 team is comprised of the United States' best field hockey players between the ages of 21-23.

Sheila Zilinski

"I couldn't believe it, I had to seriously go look it up to make sure it was real," said Zilinski about being selected to the camp.

The "A" camp will take place in Virginia Beach, VA at the United States Field Hockey Training Center from February 14-17. "She has been working out with the lacrosse team, and our assistant coach Gary Agard is doing some stick work with her to hone her skills before she goes to "A" camp," said Bloomsburg head field hockey coach Jan Hutchinson.

The road to getting this far started with a successful season scoring 14 goals and 8 assists, in an undefeated season where led to a national championship to go along with the aforementioned laundry list of awards. "She is the best player in division II field hockey," said Hutchinson. "She has great speed, tremendous stick work, and plays good defense," she continued.

After the season ended, she attended a National Field Hockey Festival in Palm Springs, CA, where she played on a team with Bloomsburg University teammates Sharla and Marlea Partlon, Marcie Zilinski, Tara Fabian, and assistant coach Kathy Frick.

"Selectors for the elite teams sat in the stands at the festival and watched everyone play, to help decide who should be selected to A camp," said Zilinski, "Fortunately this year I got a letter that said I had been selected."

"I assume that the committee saw her tenacity and speed that makes her such a threat," said Frick. "She has a great sense of the game, and her stick skills and passing set her apart from most," she continued.

If Zilinski makes the U23 team she will get the opportunity to practice with the United States National Team. "They said it would be a lot of drills, game situations, and to come in fit," said Zilinski. "If I happen to be selected to the U23 team, it will be an honor to represent the United States, and play with the best."

Zilinski will also participate in the U.S Field Hockey Summer League, which is a 7-team league that plays 3 tournaments. She practiced in this league two years ago with the Pennsylvania Pride. "Practicing with the Pride, among many other things, helped me to get where I am now," said Zilinski. If she makes the U23 team, she will automatically be placed with a summer league team. "I will try out whether I make the U23 team or not."

Regardless of whether Zilinski makes the U23 team, she is still on her way to having one of the most successful careers of any Bloomsburg field hockey player ever. "She is certainly one of the finest I've ever coached," said Hutchinson. Zilinski has one more season with the team, and is not satisfied by the recent national championship. "I want to go out on top, and win a national championship as a senior," she said. With most of the team coming back, including four of the five leading scorers, that goal may not be out of reach.

Zilinski will graduate with a double major in elementary education and special education. After graduation, she plans on giving back to the sport by becoming a coach. "What I really want to do after college is be a graduate assistant field hockey coach at a competitive university and get my masters," said Zilinski.