University of North Carolina Athletics
Former Tar Heel standout Emma Bozek remains active in the game of field hockey.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Tar Heel Alum Selected For NFHCA Honor
August 28, 2023 | Field Hockey
MANAHAWKIN, N.J. – UNC graduate Emma Bozek has been selected as the recipient of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's 2023 Junior Hockey Award. Bozek, who played for the Tar Heels from 2012-16, is the owner and director of the Colorado Bears Field Hockey Club.
She will officially receive the honor at the NFHCA's annual Coaches Appreciation Luncheon sponsored by FieldTurf® USA, Inc.
"Emma has poured herself into growing our sport in Colorado," said Laura Gebhart, chair of the NFHCA Hall of Fame Committee. "She has transferred her passion and drive from playing to providing meaningful opportunities for young athletes. I look forward to seeing how she continues to increase the impact of Colorado Bears Field Hockey Club."
"I am thrilled and honored to be receiving the Junior Hockey Award," Bozek said. "This award recognizes the hard work of not only myself, but the rest of the Colorado Bears staff over the last few years to introduce the sport of field hockey to young athletes in the state of Colorado."
In September of 2020, Bozek began running free clinics in Boulder, Colo., after noticing that the area did not have a single youth field hockey program at the recreational or competitive level. She sought to introduce the sport to players ages five to 13 in the hope of gaining some traction. According to Bozek, the clinics were a hit, and thus, the Bears were born.
What happened next could be seen as meteoric growth of the sport in the Mountain State.
Bozek said parents quickly requested additional youth field hockey programs, and that the Bears started to run skills clinics – while also continuing its free clinics – until the organization was serving over 70 brand-new youth players at the elementary and middle school levels joining the club for bi-weekly practice sessions in Boulder.
Interest continued to evolve – so much so that youth travel teams were formed – first traveling to a neighboring club in Aspen – and eventually sponsored U10 and U12 squads participating in USA Field Hockey's Sunshine Showcase in 2022 and 2023.
Since its inception, Bozek and the Bears have introduced the sport to over 150 new junior field hockey athletes in Boulder. Additionally, the club established Colorado's first-ever youth field hockey league, where local players can compete against each other in small-sided games. It has also expanded into the Denver market and now sponsors youth teams in both cities.
"This is just the beginning for the Bears," Bozek added. "We hope to continue to introduce the sport to new junior players so that we can positively impact the lives of young women in Colorado and inspire the next generation of field hockey superstars."
Bozek, a native of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y., majored in business administration at UNC. She earned All-ACC and All-ACC Academic honors and was part of five final four trips with the Tar Heels.
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