Hall of Fame Inductees
A four-year member of both the field hockey and women’s squash programs, Clara was a key contributor for both teams over her career as a Cardinal. Also, a member of the Wesleyan women’s lacrosse team for three years, Clara totaled 11 varsity letters in her time as a Cardinal.
She never missed a game in her field hockey career, playing in all 57 possible contests from 1989-92. Clara totaled nine goals and seven assists for 16 career points at the midfield position. She was named a Second Team All-American, as well as an All-NESCAC performer, in her senior year. Her best statistical season came as a sophomore in 1990 when she led the team in goals (five) and points (eight) in 14 games.
The Cardinal field hockey team improved every season over Clara’s four years at Wesleyan, culminating in a 1992 season wherein the team finished 9-6 for their highest single-season win total in more than a decade. Wesleyan also qualified for the ECAC New England Division III Tournament for the first time in the program’s history that season, during which Clara was one of the tri-captains.
On the squash courts, Clara elevated to the #2 spot in the Cardinals’ lineup during her sophomore year and later amassed a 13-win senior season in 1992-93. Clara captained that Cardinal squad and her performances that season helped lift the Cardinals to a single-season program record with 16 wins while the team also went on to capture the Howe Cup Team Class D Championship at nationals.
Following that 1992-93 season, Clara was recognized with the Hoagland Award, given to the most outstanding senior Female Athlete of the Year.
Upon graduation in 1993, Clara’s stellar athletic achievements did not stop as she is set to represent the United States for the second time as part of the US Women’s Masters National Team. She previously participated at the 2018 World Cup in Barcelona as a member of the US Masters squad and will do so again in October 2022 at the World Cup held in Cape Town, South Africa.
Clara is a distinguished club field hockey coach as she is Co-Director and Co-Founder of AGH Field Hockey Club, currently ranked #1 in the Northeast, #1 nationally at the U16 level and #2 nationally for U14. She has also served as Director of Westport field hockey for the last 10 years while she is the current Vice President of the newly formed Fairfield County Youth Field Hockey League. This 2022 season is also her first as the newly appointed varsity coach at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, Connecticut.
