Avon’s Ziemnicki to be inducted into CHSCA Hall of Fame this fall

Avon High field hockey coach Terri Ziemnicki

AVON – The accomplishments achieved by the Avon High field hockey team under head coach Terry Ziemnicki are impressive.

In 24 seasons, the Falcons have won 288 games, seven NCCC championships, participated in the CIAC tournament every year and played in the state finals three times. There have been some legendary games with Canton, Granby and other teams.

Still, when Ziemnicki looks at her coaching career, she smiles. Not all of victories were on the field. “To know that I’ve had an impact on the life of a child and to teach them …” she says letting the thought drift into the air.

Ziemnicki had a former player who took the words she would share in practice to heart. “I tell them if they put their mind to it, they can do anything they want,” she said. As part of her current job, the player developed a website and dedicated it to Ziemnicki and her inspiration.

“I’m blessed that I have been given this opportunity to help shape these young women and help them get ready for the real word after high school,” she said.

As she gets ready for another season with the Falcons, Ziemnicki needs to set aside two dates this fall.

She will be inducted in the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) Hall of Fame. She and several other inductees will be recognized at halftime of the UConn football game against South Florida on Oct. 12 at Rentschler Field and inducted at a Hall of Fame dinner on Sunday, Nov. 21, at the Aqua Turf in Southington.

Ziemnicki will be just the second Avon High coach to be inducted. Barbara Startup, who coached volleyball, girls basketball and softball during her career in Avon, was the first Avon coach to be inducted a year ago.

Ziemnicki is honored and a bit speechless when it comes to the Hall of Fame. Perhaps, it is because she feels that she is still growing as a coach. “I love going to coaching clinics and learning from my colleagues,” she said.

She will admit that she is a better coach today than when she was hired for the varsity field hockey position in 1989.

“When I became a mother, I became a better coach,” she said. “I grew up. I became more patient. I enjoy the development of the players and have a better vision of the whole picture instead of just winning. I try to learn from my mistakes and situations.”

Ziemnicki and her husband, Jon, have two young sons, Zach 15, and Ryan, 12.

“I learn from the players,” she said. “I learn everything from them. I learn what is in, what they like and don’t like. Sometimes, it is a new technique. I learn from their experiences. Everyone has a story and a different view of life.”

Coach Terri Ziemnicki, right, talks strategy with her Avon High field hockey team.

She admits she is a serious collector of inspirational quotes. Ziemnicki likes to share them with her team on a daily basis. Quotes from former UCLA men’s basketball coach John Wooden are some of her favorite. “He completely inspires me,” she admitted.

She has a pad and pen by her bed and every TV in her house. She is known to pause a movie or pause her workout on the treadmill to take down a quote.

“I listen to (former UConn men’s basketball coach) Jim Calhoun, (UConn women’s basketball coach) Geno Auriemma and other athletes or people who have made a positive presence in the world,” she said. “I want to be better. I want to be the best coach I can be.”

Ziemnicki says her former players joke with her that she has mellowed over the years. She says she isn’t as vocal and demonstrative as she was when she was younger and tries to keep her focus on things she can control.

She remains competitive and wants her players to feel the joy of winning a state championship. “That hasn’t gone away but I try to make it a piece of the whole picture,” she said.

Her teams have come close. The Falcons lost in the Class S finals in Nonnewaug in 1990, Canton in 1995 and 1998. Her Granby girls lacrosse team finished second in Class S in 2012.

“I want (us) to win a state championship but nothing is more important than character,” Ziemnicki said. “I try to live as a good person and try to be a role model for these girls to learn from. I don’t want to let people down.”

Ziemnicki grew up in Avon and was a three-sport athlete at Avon High, where she played field hockey, basketball and softball. She attended Itacha College and graduated with a degree in Recreation with a minor in social work.

When she returned from Itacha, she was hired as the junior varsity coach in Avon. Four years later, she was named as the head coach of the field hockey team in 1989. She coached the Avon High softball team for six years (1990-95) and coached the Avon girls lacrosse team for four seasons (2008-11).

She stepped away from the girls lacrosse position to spend more time with her family, who have been tremendously helpful in carving out time for her coach.

“I’ve been blessed to have a husband who is so supportive,” she said. “Dinner is made when I get home and the kids all get where they need to be.” She also thanked her mother, Jean, her sister in law, Rochelle and long-time friends Jean and Lou Dow for rides and taking care of the boys in the afternoon when it is needed. “They’ve helped me along the way so I can coach.”

Ziemnicki wasn’t looking to coach girls lacrosse again and was on the verge of taking an course to officiate when Granby contacted her and asked her to help with their program. Since her family lives in Granby and the middle school and high school are within the same building, it worked out.

Her Granby girls lacrosse team was second in Class S in 2012 and the Bears shared the NCCC championship with Avon this spring.

But now, this is field hockey season. Once again, Ziemnicki is getting the Falcons prepared. Avon, which won the NCCC title a year ago, has nine seniors returning including regional All-American midfielder Caroline Schaefer.

Ziemnicki isn’t making any predictions. She is just getting them ready.

“Years from now, they won’t remember the score (of a game) but they’ll remember how they felt,” she said. “That is what I want my legacy to be.”

At a glance
FIELD HOCKEY
Avon High, 1989-present (24 years)
Record: 288-94-42-6
NCCC championships (7): 1996, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
State finals (3): 1990, 1995, 1998
CHSCA Coach of the year: 1991 (Class S), 2009 (Class M)
Volunteer, Nutmeg State Games, 1989-2006
U.S. Field Hockey Association, Futures Program, 1990-present
Founding member of Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame, 1999 

GIRLS LACROSSE
Avon High, 2008-11 (4 years)
Record: 40-23-1
NCCC championships (2): 2008, 2009
Granby High, 2012-13 (2 years)
Record: 27-9-1
NCCC championship (1): 2013
State finals (1): 2012 

SOFTBALL
Avon High, 1990-95 (6 years)