Lily Heinemann
Age: 24
Occupation: Government Logistics
How long have you been playing? Almost 2 years (Winter League 2020?)
How did you start playing camogie? My friends convinced me to come to Winter League
What position do you play? Midfield
Favorite Hurling Memory: Establishing the Camog Fraternity
Goal of 2022 season: Work on endurance (so I don’t almost die in midfield)
All time favorite food: Domino’s pizza & soft pretzels
Kay Sim
Age: 32
Occupation: Human Factors Engineer
How long have you been playing? Less than a year
How did you start playing camogie? Saw someone on a dating app that said they were a Philadelphia hurling champion – and I didn’t believe them. I had seen a few matches while I was in Ireland, then I ended up joining the team.
What position do you play? Half back
Favorite Hurling Memory: The Boston Tournament – just good times all around
Goal of 2022 season: Proper conditioning & improving on my soloing
All time favorite food: Bao buns
Jessica Lynch
Age: 43
Occupation: Scientific Director, Nonclinical Safety
How long have you been playing? ~15 years
How did you start playing camogie? I moved to St. Louis and didn’t know anyone. I was approached at a party and asked if I would be interested in Gaelic Football. Didn’t know what it was but figured I would try it once. While that season was going they had a turkey day girl (bbq turkey and play hurling for those without family obligations) and they taught me how to play hurling. I thought this is the best sport ever and played co-Ed hurling and camogie with St Mary’s out of Chicago while I co-founded camogie in St. Louis with Anji Wall.
What position do you play? I used to love half forward, but I am old and slow so full forward, full back or goalie
Favorite Hurling Memory: I have way too many awesome memories but I would say my favorite year was 2016- won pub league hurling with Allentown hurling club, won the intermediate Camogie USGAA title with Baltimore Bohemians and won the native world games division playing in Croke Park
Goal of 2022 season: Getting back in shape and on the pitch after two years off due to COVID and the birth of my daughter
All time favorite food: Tough one since I love food, but my favorite post game meal would be pizza and ice cream
Sam Gladnick
Age: 29
Occupation: Physical Therapist
How long have you been playing? 3 years
How did you start playing camogie? A friend talked me into it in college, played a few years with the Pittsburgh Pucas, and then picked it back up after graduate school after running into another friend in Philadelphia who convinced me to come back and play or be shunned for life
What position do you play? Midfield/Half Forward
Favorite Hurling Memory: Somewhere between scoring my first point at Al O’Leary or Nationals in Boston – it’s hard to chose
Goal of 2022 season: Head to nationals with full force
All time favorite food: Herr’s original popcorn
Katrina Terry
Age: 26
Occupation: Field Service Engineer – Flow Cytometry
How long have you been playing? 5 years
How did you start playing camogie? Joined after competing in the Philadelphia Mary from Dungloe
What position do you play? Half Back
Favorite Hurling Memory: Scoring a point on my weak side versus Canada at World Games in Waterford
Goal of 2022 season: Get better at helping my team with field spacing and communication on the field
All time favorite food: Tacos
Eilish Haley
Age: 28
Occupation: High school teacher
How long have you been playing? This will be my 2nd year!
How did you start playing camogie? I heard about it when I went to Timoney Irish dance camp when I was probably about 8. My teacher is from Derry and she would have us play the game during the camp. She and her sister use to play and they were the captains. We played every single year at camp! It’s one of my favorite memories.
What position do you play? Full forward
Favorite Hurling Memory: Getting to go to Boston and get to spend time with the team.
Goal of 2022 season: Definitely improve and be a more confident player and work on stamina building!
All time favorite food: Pizza or buff chicken cheese steak. I could eat that every day
Tara Chadwick
Age: 34…god I’m old
Occupation: Physical Therapist
How long have you been playing? Since I was 8
How did you start playing camogie? The entire school played every lunch time in Primary school. I started playing there and was encouraged by some of the older girls in the school to join the local club team.
What position do you play? Grew up playing primarily in the fullback line, but these days I hang out in the half forward line
Favorite Hurling Memory: Going to all Ireland’s in Croke Park.
Goal of 2022 season: Improve my consistency with side lines! And leave nothing behind when we get to Chicago!!
All time favorite food: All of it, lol. But when I go home I’m heading to the chipper for a bag of chips with salt/vinegar
Melissa Doman
Age: 35
Occupation: Business owner (Melissa Doman Sleep Consulting), Mobility director at Doman International
How long have you been playing? 4 years
How did you start playing camogie? A co-worker told me about NT and after a really stressful 2017 I thought it was a great opportunity for me to try something new, blow off some steam, and make some new friends
What position do you play? Full back
Favorite Hurling Memory: Finals 2019 in Virginia – we bonded as individual teams and as a club. I’ll never forget that weekend.
Goal of 2022 season: 1. Win the Finals in Chicago (NBD), 2. Learn how to do a sideline cut, 3. Learn how to take a free
All time favorite food: Kalbi – Korean short rib
Riley Smith
Age: 27
Occupation: ER Nurse
How long have you been playing? 5 years
How did you start playing hurling? My mom was a original member of COVA
What position do you play? Anywhere
Favorite Hurling Memory: Winning Junior Nationals 2018
Goal of 2022 season: Becoming more versatile
All time favorite food: Mashed potatoes or PB&J
Maria Mulvihill
Age: 29
Occupation: Veterinary Radiologist
How long have you been playing? 20 years
How did you start playing hurling? My grandma brought me to my first training
What position do you play? Midfield
Favorite Hurling Memory: USA – 2021 Nationals, seeing all the girls give Boston hell as a team. Cheering on the girls (and boys) win 2022 Nationals from afar! Ireland – U14 Feile in Tipperary 2007
Goal of 2023 season: 2023 National Champions
All time favorite food: Indian
Deirdre “Fizz” Cunniffe
Age: 17
Occupation: Student
How long have you been playing? 1year
How did you start playing hurling? By accident! played around recreationally not really knowing anything about it and realized I loved it, and eventually joined NT
What position do you play? Wherever you put me, but I love goal (read: I am off my rocker)
Favorite Hurling Memory: Nationals in Chicago
Goal of 2023 season: Improve my ‘swing’ to ‘actually hit’ ratio and finally figure out what actually constitutes a foul
All time favorite food: Cheesecake or coffee
Meghan Piacentino
Age: 28
Occupation: Commercial Solar Sales
How long have you been playing? 2 years
How did you start playing hurling? After moving to Atlanta, I showed up to a random practice after finding it on the internet. I transferred to NT when I moved back to PA in 2021.
What position do you play? Midfield
Favorite Hurling Memory: Going to my first Nationals in DC
Goal of 2022 season: Successfully take a free during a game and to be more confident catching a puck out
All time favorite food: Bacon cheeseburger
Bridget Herrmann
Age: 38
Occupation: Teacher
How long have you been playing? 6 years
How did you start playing hurling? Recruited by husband, Scott
What position do you play? Full forward
Favorite Hurling Memory: Going to 2019 All Ireland Finals
Goal of 2022 season: Win at Nationals
All time favorite food: Ice cream
Lauren Kolar
Age: 34
Occupation: Middle and High School Teacher
How long have you been playing? 1 year
How did you start playing hurling? At the Shillelagh club bar after band practice one night, a gentleman comes up and starts telling us about this crazy sport I’d never heard of. When I found out they practice only 15 minutes from where I live, I had to check it out. Now I’m obsessed.
What position do you play? Full forward
Favorite Hurling Memory: Playing my first game with Na Toraidhe!
Goal of 2022 season: Build endurance, confidence, and work on improving all aspects of my game.
All time favorite food: Veggie tacos 🌮
Audrey Rittenhouse
Age: 30
How long have you been playing? 7 years
How did you start playing hurling? Started with Charleston Hurling after I finished swimming in college then found Na Tóraídhe thanks to Anthony Picozzi when I moved back home
What position do you play? Midfield
Favorite Hurling Memory: Winning Nationals in Chicago in 2023
Goal of 2023 season: improve my striking so I don’t have to run as much
All time favorite food: ice cream (specifically from Zwahlens in the burbs)
Teagan “Bubs” O’Neill
Age: 20
Occupation: College Student
How long have you been playing? 11 years
How did you start playing camogie? My dad was the coach of the Delco Gaels and forced me to play
What position do you play? Everywhere
Favorite Hurling Memory: Playing stump
Goal of 2022 season: Make a new team in Pitt
All time favorite food: Mama Reg’s turkey burgers
Meg Harkins
Age: 29 plus 8 years experience
How long have you been playing? Less than 1 year, started playing with the team near the end of the 2022 season
How did you start playing camogie? I went to an Irish cultural festival at Penn’s Landing. The camogs had a recruitment table set up. Tara, the master salesman that she is, locked eyes with me and told me that I wanted to play. I complied.
What position do you play? Dunno. One of the defensive ones?
Favorite Hurling Memory: Meeting everyone on the team. Everyone has been very nice and patient given that I have never played before.
Goal of 2022 season: Further developing fundamental skills
All time favorite food: Scrapple and french fries
Philadelphia Hurling and Camogie Club 