The Academy District 20 field hockey team really got its “s-word” together this year. 

“Swagger, I definitely like their swagger this year,” District 20 coach Hannah Jameson said after her team’s 7-0 victory against Cheyenne Mountain on Tuesday night at Pine Creek. “There’s a grit, confidence and ownership that we’ve never seen before. Every game they connect the dots and hit milestones and that’s helping them build swagger and team pride.” 

The D20 team is 7-4-2 with two contests remaining before the state playoffs and rank No. 7 in the Colorado High School Activities Association RPI poll as of Tuesday night. 

That’s a stark contrast from Jameson’s first year at the helm. After the 2023 season, the team, currently located at Pine Creek, moved from Liberty to the Eagles’ backyard to form a team. 

In 2023, when the D20 team played at Liberty, the Lancers finished 7-8 and graduated a wealth of senior experience. That showed as the D20 team finished 2024 with two regular-season wins. 

“Last year felt like a rebuild, especially with a new coaching staff,” senior Brooklyn Galvan said. “But the environment was really good and I think that’s why we’ve stepped up our game.” 

During the 2024 playoffs, District 20 entered as the 16th of 16 teams, faced No. 1 Cherry Creek in the opener and lost 7-0 to the Bruins. Coaches and players expected that outcome but had a welcome surprise in the consolation bracket. 

The District 20 squad, which features athletes from Rampart, Air Academy, Pine Creek, Liberty and more, defeated Palmer Ridge and Boulder Valley School Districts’ teams to advance to the consolation finals, where they lost to Smoky Hill 2-1. The District 20 players displayed another s-word, but this one ended with a “t.”

“They showed so much spirit last season and it was such an amazing run,” Jameson said. “They showed a lot of heart and we were so proud of what they accomplished.”

If players hoped to replicate that feeling, they had to hustle to find additional teammates this year. After the 2024 season, seven seniors graduated and left District 20 with seven players on the roster, four shy of the 11 necessary for a team.

Jameson told players to recruit whomever they could and she followed suit. Players recruited their friends and Jameson ventured throughout the district to recruit athletes.

“I knew if I was asking that of them, I would be in every space I could be to help people realize this is something they want to be a part of,” Jameson said. “I got some swimmers, gymnasts, soccer players and lacrosse players as well. The desperation was necessary because we wouldn’t have been able to make a team.”

What began as 11 ballooned to 40 with players such as Galvan acting as a veteran and a host of athletes who never played field hockey. That includes Laine Setter.

Setter, a 10-year soccer vet, ditched the pitch and played lacrosse as a freshman. Setter “met my best friends” through lacrosse and those pals suggested Setter try field hockey in the fall.

So far, in Setter’s inaugural field hockey season, she said she enjoys the environment and Jameson said the sophomore “has been an impact player.” Most importantly, the skillset in soccer translated to field hockey.

“The positioning and movements are similar and I was working with my forward running wall passes and I owe a lot of that to soccer,” Setter said. “From lacrosse, it’s all hand-eye coordination. It’s the same thing but on the ground.”

Setter scored with 11:11 on the clock in the first quarter against Cheyenne Mountain to ignite District 20 and Marin Bush and Elle Emmerson each scored two goals. Lexi Barfield and Scotlynne Cochrane also struck for D20 in the contest.

The postseason begins Oct. 27-28 and athletes are excited to improve upon their success from 2024, but they’ll also cherish the road traveled from the 16^th seed to a potential playoff host.

“During the regular season last year, we were trying to figure out what sort of team we wanted to be,” Galvan said. “In the playoffs and consolation that translated into this year. I’m excited and this is a really good way for me to end my field hockey career. I’m proud of this team and to see where it goes in the future.”