Views from high school sports from photographer Toni L. SandysWhen Lil Shelton first came to Severna Park High School in 1972,things were a lot different. Severna Park was considered more of asleepy town than a suburb of two metropolitan areas. The studentbody was less than half of the 1,800-plus that are enrolled now,and physical education classes were segregated by sexes.
Title IX, the landmark legislation banning sex discrimination inschools -- whether in academics or athletics -- was juststarting to make its way down to the schools. 'There were no sportsfor girls when I came to Anne Arundel County,' said Shelton, who wasa physical education teacher at the school. 'Right away we startedvolleyball, basketball, and softball.
'One day, I found these old sticks in the closet,' Shelton said.Eager to teach her classes another sport to play, field hockey wasborn at Severna Park. Shelton found the girls loved the game andwanted to learn more. 'I taught it in class, so I said why can't weget a team?
'They didn't have many sports for girls down south,' chuckledShelton, who grew up in Alabama. 'When I came to Severna Park HighSchool, I wanted these girls to have opportunities to play.'
So, when her principal gave her the go-ahead for the team in1975, Shelton immediately made an announcement on the school'spublic address system. 'I said anyone that wants to play fieldhockey meet me after school and a whole bunch of girls came.'
The team practiced on the school's front lawn while the footballteam used the stadium. The girls frequently had to dodge and duckfrom trees as they practiced dribbling the ball. Knowing that fieldhockey needs short grass, Shelton occasionally mowed the lawnherself. 'There was nobody else around to do that,' she said.
Severna Park was the only public school team in Anne ArundelCounty. It played as many local private schools as it could -- theSevern School, Spalding and the Wroxeter School. But it also spent alot of time traveling. 'That first year, we got on the bus and wentaround the Beltway,' Shelton said.
In 1979, Shelton led her team to its first state title -- quitean accomplishment for a coach that learned the game along with herplayers.
Thirty-four years since the program's inception, Shelton and herFalcons have won 19 state championships, including one this year.She has coached the moms and aunts of some of her current players.
'It's fun,' said Shelton, who retired from teaching in 2000. Theseason is short and the hours are minimal. 'I enjoy the girls. Theyjust get better every year, and I just don't want to let them go.'
-- sandyst@washpost.com
