The Glenbrook field hockey team beat Latin School of Chicago 2-0 at the state tournament on Nov. 2 to finish in third place.
“I think in the third-place game, we came off right away and we scored pretty quickly in the first quarter,” said junior Sophie Wenk. “And I think that was just a great energy boost because it just got the team going and gave us confidence that we could win this game with a purpose.”
The team was disappointed because it placed first at state last year, but Wenk was still proud of all of her teammates and the good game they played, she said.
According to senior Reese Anetsberger, the team performed the best it could for its last game knowing it was the last time everyone would be playing together.
“So I didn’t think we let up for one minute … I was never worried that we weren’t gonna pull through,” Anetsberger said.
Despite losing to Lake Forest 1-0 in the semifinal game on Oct. 31, the team still had an opportunity to place in the state tournament.
“So obviously, the kids were upset, they were frustrated, but they regrouped and they composed themselves and won the third-place game,” said head coach Tom Rosenbaum. “So it’s nice because there’s only two teams that their last game of the year is a win.”
The team was able to put the semifinal game in the past and channel its energy into the third-place game, Wenk said.
After helping lead the team to the state tournament as a captain, Anetsberger was named a 2024 National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American.
Anetsberger’s drive, commitment, humility and communication with her teammates is what makes her stand out, Rosenbaum said.
The team finished the season with a record of 14-5-2.
The team culture also contributed to the success this season, Anetsberger said.
“Yes, we lost a lot of talent last year, but the new girls, and girls that had been on the team before, stepped into big shoes, and they filled those roles pretty well,” said Anetsberger. “So I think that our team culture and our overall bond helped translate to the field. We listened to each other, we communicated well, we trusted each other. So I think that that was a key component to our team’s success.”