By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
While Missy Bruvik has spent the past five years away from head coaching, she has never strayed far from the sport of field hockey.
Bruvik was the head coach at Stuart Country Day School for 21 years before stepping aside so she could watch her daughter, Kelly, play the sport in college at Bucknell. She spent a couple of those years as an assistant coach to Katie Grant and later, Julie Lambe, before moving back into the head coaching role this season.
”I really never stopped,” Bruvik said. “I always did middle school or got to assist Katie or Julie. I am excited about coming back and working with this team.
”I feel like it is a whole new group of kids that I have never coached and some I have never met. A lot of the kids are new to the school, which is terrific. It is a great combination of kids that have been here and new kids getting excited about sports. So for me it is like I am starting over. I hope I am the right person for the job.”
Bruvik enjoyed plenty of success in her first stint as the Tartans’ head coach. She won over 200 games, leading the team to four Mercer County Tournament titles and 10 prep tournament titles.
”I felt like when I did take off from the head position to see Kelly play that was the right decision and I have no regrets,” Bruvik said. Now the timing for me is all good. For the most part the game hasn’t changed. There are some new rules changes. And this is my first chance to be on the turf with a team. I have done clinics and camps on the turf but this is the first time to have my own team that will play on the turf.”
Bruvik has found that the players are just as eager to work hard and learn as they were before, which is what she likes to see.
”They want to work hard,” Bruvik said. “They are listening every day. We have two seniors who have been great leaders and we have added eight new freshmen to the program. So it is a nice mix with leadership and youth. It will be nice to see what we can do between now and November.”
Bruvik will also get to reconnect with some old friends in the coaching ranks that she may not have seen over the last few years.
”We had a meeting with the coaches and officials the other day and it was great to see everybody at that meeting,” Bruvik said. “There is great camaraderie. You make friends and we are all here for the kids. Everyone just tries to work with the teams to do what is best for the kids.”
