By Paige Bitting
My name is Paige Bitting, and I’m a senior on the Duke Field Hockey team.
I was about 5 years old the first time I picked up a field hockey stick. In the small town in Pennsylvania where I grew up, that was not unusual. Field hockey is deeply rooted within the community — almost every girl I knew played field hockey at some point growing up. When I attended my first field hockey camp at five years old, I could never have imagined how much of an impact the game would have on my life. It has served as a cornerstone of my personal development, teaching me countless lessons about what it means to be a teammate and competitor, helping me find my voice and place as a leader, and ultimately opening doors that led me to Duke University and allowed me to find a second home in Durham.
This makes it even more meaningful to be hosting the 2025 NCAA Field Hockey Championship in Durham this November. Not only is hosting this championship a milestone for Duke and Durham, but it is also a chance to highlight the sport that has shaped me and many others. It provides an opportunity to share field hockey with a new generation of young athletes in Durham and the surrounding area.
I developed my love for field hockey in what many consider the field hockey hotbed of the United States, central Pennsylvania. In my town, field hockey is a local legacy. When I arrived in North Carolina for my freshman year at Duke, I was greeted with many opportunities to share this legacy with community members and have embraced every chance to showcase the sport that has had such a massive role in shaping who I am.
Coaching local youth has been one of the most meaningful ways I’ve been able to support field hockey’s growth in Durham. It has been inspiring to witness the increase in local participation at camps and clinics and to support young girls as they begin on their own journey with the game.
I’m passionate about continuing to grow the game, so young girls all over Durham and beyond can develop the same love for the sport that I did many years ago. It is important to me to give back to the sport that has provided me with so much. Over my 4 years of calling Durham home, I am proud to have witnessed and contributed to growth in the sport, but there is still opportunity for so much more.
To continue growing the game in Durham, it is essential to expose girls to the sport at a young age. Attending Duke Field Hockey games this fall is the perfect opportunity for local youth to see the high-speed play, technical skill, and teamwork that makes field hockey special. I encourage local youth to come out and support at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium this fall, where they can experience firsthand the energy and excitement of field hockey. I hope enthusiasm for field hockey in Durham grows throughout the season, building momentum for the 2025 NCAA Field Hockey Championship this November.
Hosting the 2025 NCAA Field Hockey Championship in Durham represents something truly special. This championship can be more than just a game; it can serve as a platform to inspire the next generation of field hockey players in Durham. It is a chance for local youth to witness firsthand strong, passionate women competing at the highest level in a sport they share love and gratitude for. It is an opportunity to show just how far field hockey can take someone and the kind of impact it can have on young girls’ development.
Field hockey shaped my journey, and I believe it has the power to do the same for others. This championship marks the start of a new chapter for the sport in Durham and the surrounding area. I hope that young girls who attend the championship feel inspired to pick up a stick and find confidence, community and opportunity through the sport of field hockey like I did.