Field Hockey Field to be Dedicated in Honor of Dr. Jan Watson

July 31, 2024

Contact: Jacob Plecker (pl*******@ap******.edu)

Online: https://appstatesports.com/news/2024/7/31/field-hockey-field-to-be-dedicated-in-honor-of-dr-jan-watson.aspx

BOONE, N.C. – The legendary Dr. Jan Watson, who founded App State Field Hockey – the university’s first women’s sport – in 1968, will be honored on Aug. 30 for the Mountaineers’ home-opening game against Towson. The playing surface will be dedicated to Watson prior to the contest, and 56 years of field hockey in the High Country will be celebrated throughout the weekend.
 
Dr. Watson was App State Field Hockey’s first head coach after founding the program. She went on to win 157 games, the most in program history. She helped found the program four years before the advent of Title IX, making App State Field Hockey the first varsity women’s sports program in North Carolina at what is now a Division I school.
 
The App State Athletics Hall of Famer also founded the Deep South Field Hockey Association, which gave her student-athletes a chance to compete at the local, regional and national levels. In her time as head coach at App State, she mentored each of the top two goal-scorers in program history and saw 92 players reach the sectional and national levels in Deep South competition.
 
In 2022, Dr. Watson was labeled as an Appalachian State University trailblazer. She has been honored by the Deep South, South East and U.S. Field Hockey Associations, as well as garnering recognition from the North Carolina Alliance for HPERD for outstanding teaching and leadership for women’s athletics.
 
All field hockey alumnae, App State staff and friends of the program are invited to celebrate the accomplishments of Dr. Watson and the program during the Mountaineers’ home-opening weekend. The festivities will commence at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 30 with a tailgate at the field hockey complex before the 4 p.m. game against Towson. Alumnae will then be recognized on the field at halftime of the game.
 
After the game against Towson, alumnae and fans are invited to a celebration dinner in honor of Dr. Watson at Leon Lavine Hall. Guests will be treated to dinner and will hear remarks from head coach Emily Dinsmore, select alumnae and Dr. Watson. The event begins at 7 p.m.
 
Those who register will be invited to App State Football’s home opener against ETSU on Aug. 31, where Dr. Watson and all field hockey alumnae will be recognized on the field during the second quarter. The celebration will conclude with the Mountaineers’ noon contest with Georgetown on Sunday, Sept. 1.
 
If you wish to be a part of the celebration of Dr. Jan C. Watson, please register here. For further details regarding the event, contact Dr. Katie Talbert (ta*******@ap******.edu) or visit the link.

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App State Athletics Strategic Communications
425 Jack Branch Drive
Boone, NC, 28608
www.appstatesports.com