Submitted by Mariellen Cherry, HKHS Assistant Field Hockey Coach
(September 14, 2024) — On Sunday September 7, 2024 Leah Helm, Haddam-Killingworth High School Field Hockey alumna from the Class of 1995, was inducted into the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame. The ceremony and dinner were held at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. Several other former high school and college players, as well as coaches throughout the state, were also honored as inductees at the banquet.
Leah was an extraordinary goalie for Haddam-Killingworth High School in her Junior and Senior seasons. In her Junior year, she led the team to the Class M finals, where they fell to Enfield 1-0.
The following season, in 1994, as a Senior and Captain of the team Leah and her teammates were able to hold off Canton High School to secure the first Class S State Championship in HKHS Field Hockey history. The team ended the season as the Top Seed with a 17-0-2 record. Leah was named the MVP of the State Finals Game.
Leah (above photo, center, with HKFH alumnae Jenn Santangelo 1993, Heather DiLauro Sconti 1995, and Jessice Hiwes 1994) also was named to the All-State Team in both her Junior and Senior seasons (1993 and 1994). She allowed only 10 goals in 39 games. She had 15 shutouts in her Junior season and 14 in her senior year. In a Hartford Courant article from November 1994, Coach Patsy Kamercia stated that, “Leah is the best goalie in the state of Connecticut.”
Leah also was an amazing softball player for Haddam-Killingworth. She played Varsity all four years of her HK Softball career. She earned All-State honors in both her Junior and Senior seasons. She was Captain of the team her senior year and was honored as a CHSCA Senior All-Star Captain and was named to the New Haven Register All-Area Team.
Leah gave back to the HK Field Hockey program by being an assistant coach for a period of time.
Other former HKFH players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame include Nancy Lang inducted in 2002, and Ashley Smith inducted in 2022. Beloved Coach Patsy Kamercia was inducted in 2013.
The 2024 Haddam-Killingworth Field Hockey Team would like to congratulate Leah on her Hall of Fame Induction.
The Annual HK Field Hockey Alumni game will be held Columbus Day weekend, Sunday October 13, 2024. The game will start at 11:00 a.m. with a luncheon to follow. All HKFH Alumni are encouraged to come play or just watch and enjoy the game, visit with old friends and have lunch afterwards.
Photo by Mariellen Cherry
