Tryouts for Grover Middle School’s field hockey team held a major surprise this year. Eighth grader Josh Lee had to explain that no, he did know he was in the right place, and yes, he really did want to join the “girls” field hockey team. “I just wanted to try it,” he told his mother Sue Lee, owner of Plainsboro Hardware.
Lithe and athletic at five feet, six inches and 110 pounds, Lee had already tried his hand at swimming and baseball. He simply sought, as educators keep urging, to learn something new. At first Lee’s choice of a new sport to learn caused a few ripples. He withstood the standard jibes thrown by other male athletes and male coaches, along with the comments of a few shocked game-watching parents. But these soon faded, and his teammates took him as one of their own.
Coach Sheryl Lubas, assessing his strong running ability, placed him at left midfield position. “It has been absolutely no problem for the girls,” Lubas says. “They are thrilled to have him on their team. On the few occasions anyone has given him trouble, our girls rally round him.” While his teammates and coach praise him as a real trooper, Lee himself feels he does not play the game as well as he might.
On the field Lubas notes that “He is a boy and naturally more aggressive than most players, but he is not at all overly physical.” Coaches, referees and even opposing players have complimented him on his on-field gentlemanly behavior. Lee’s mother finds this as no surprise. She notes that as the youngest of five, with three older sisters, Josh has learned to socialize well with girls and retain his own confidence.
Boys in field hockey has plenty of historical backing. In the days when our grandparents gathered in back lots with homemade sticks, the game was called shinny, played by boys and only the toughest girls in the neighborhood. Then, after being officially adopted into the schools, the sport became ladies only — with only the toughest still playing.
Lee is not sure whether he will continue his new sport into high school, but if he does, he will doubtless find the same ready acceptance. When asked what she thought about having a male addition, South captain Lauren Petro said, “ I think it would be wonderful to have guys on the team. It would give them a chance to see how hard we work.”
So will the door Lee has opened the door entice other boys to follow?
“I certainly hope so,” says Lubas. Either way, we congratulate Josh Lee for being very much his own man.
