More News

Good Wood

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006

Two weeks ago, Bethesda-Chevy Chase’s Amy Wood joined the ranks of some exclusive company by capturing the 200th win over her illustrious coaching career.

In honor of that high-water mark, Wood was given a plaque by her current team following a recent 4-1 home win over archrival Whitman. She said a few words to the crowd and then attended a party with current and former players and parents and other friends.

‘‘I told my family, `I don’t know what it means, other than I’m old,’” Wood said. ‘‘It’s a huge milestone for me to hit. I knew it was coming this year. It’s amazing.”

It is amazing. And, I thought I’d honor Coach Wood by placing her many accomplishments in my own plaque made of black ink and white paper. Well, that is except for you Internet readers.

During her first 13 years at the helm, the county’s field hockey queen guided the Barons to 12 of the program’s stunning 18 straight regional titles, a streak that was snapped by North Carroll in last year’s 3A West Region final. Mike Carroll started the run in 1987.

Even more impressive, Wood, who joked years back that she was going to be run out of town for only reaching the state semifinals in her first season in 1993, guided B-CC to nine straight state championships spanning from 1994-2002 to set a national high-school record for consecutive state championships in any sport.

She has won a total of 10 state championships in all, including upending longtime nemesis Severna Park, winners of 15 state titles, in the 2004 3A state final to hand the Falcons their lone loss of that season.

During her impressive run, Wood has compiled a 202-23-13 career record heading into today’s contest with Springbrook, averaging 14.7 wins per year. The Barons have raced out to a 10-2 mark this year with their only losses coming against Quince Orchard (9-1) and St. Stephen’s⁄St. Agnes (10-1-1).

‘‘I think in Maryland when you don’t even get 20 games in a season, it means there’s success in your program and a special class of people that are there and I’m honored to be one of them,” said Wood, who was named the Gazette Coach of the Year from 1999-2002 and produced a 37-match win streak from September 1999 until late September of 2001. ‘‘If you don’t have special players like these guys and Emily Beach in the past and Sarah Wright, you don’t get to 200 quite as fast.”

Certainly Wood has been blessed with some wonderful athletes in former players Julie Nelson, Mary Havell, Eleanor Morgan, Katie Lee, Elizabeth Schlossberg, Sam Riley, Nina Bruno, Beach and Wright and current stars in senior midfielder Shay Smith and goalkeeper Claire Davey-Karlson.

But what has made Wood so successful over the years is her mix of incredible intensity on the field and her unbridled passion for both her players and the game itself.

‘‘Amy truly is amazing,” said Nelson, who now coaches at Bullis and who won four straight state titles at B-CC with Wood from 1995-1999. ‘‘She knows the game like no one else I ever met. But I believe that is not what makes her successful. She has an unbelievable love and passion for the game, for not settling, ever, for anything short of first place. She is so tough and hard, yet you know she believes in you more than anyone else.”

That competitive spirit is easily seen on the sidelines at game time as Wood transforms into a fiery ball of energy from the opening to the final whistle, screaming instructions, gritting her teeth, becoming a virtual contortionist with her bodily gesticulations, displaying anger at an official’s call or disbelief in a player’s missed assignment.

Wood is also well known for her ‘‘inspired” halftime speeches, some have both scared and motivated me to want to pick up a field hockey stick and take to the field (although I would never wear a plaid skirt, that’s not a good look for me, but that’s for a different column).

To the unknowing observer, Wood probably looks too demanding, especially when her face turns a few shades brighter than her red hair. But because of her passion, Wood’s players would defend their coach to the bitter end.

‘‘She’s absolutely intense and I think that’s good,” said Wright, who credits Wood’s coaching style for her desire to become a coach, first at Walter Johnson High and now as a graduate assistant at Ohio University. ‘‘It keeps everybody on their toes but she knows when to relax and have fun. That’s why she’s successful.

‘‘I can’t believe it’s not 500 [wins] considering the amount of things she’s done for the school and the program overall and the people she’s influenced. She is the reason why I am where I am now. She’s had a huge impact on developing and shaping teenager girls.”

‘‘I think it comes down to the fact that she loves field hockey and she knows a lot about it and she wants girls to get better,” said Beach, a volunteer assistant at Maryland, where she recently won a national title. ‘‘It’s really a matter of liking what you do and being good at it. She has players who work hard for her [and] she’s right there with them.”