Conrad Weiser graduate Jaclyn Briggs is headed to Rio as a member of the U.S. Women’s Field Hockey team. Anchoring the women in the net, Briggs will serve as goalkeeper for the 2016 Olympic team. This will be her first Olympic Games as a starter for the team. Briggs was an alternate at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Briggs’ field hockey career started long before landing a spot on the Olympic team. With roots in Robesonia, she was a member of High Styx, an elite club field hockey team with a long history of success. Following her graduation from Conrad Weiser High School in 2006, she went on to play field hockey at the University of North Carolina. While attending UNC, Briggs honed her skills, which ultimately allowed her to launch a full-time career in field hockey after earning her degree.
An integral part of the recent success of the U.S. Women’s Field Hockey team, Jaclyn has been making an impact on the national team since 2010. Highlights from her career thus far include two gold medals from the Pan American Games (2011 and 2015), a gold medal from the 2014 Champions Challenge, and a gold medal from World League Round 2 in 2013 - just to name a few of her many accolades. Briggs is looking to add a gold medal from the 2016 Olympic Games to this list in August.
The U.S. Women’s Field Hockey team is in a much better position entering the 2016 Olympic Games than they were for the 2012 games in London. A plethora of changes have been made in the past four years – changes that have ranked the team fifth in the world, the highest status the program has ever seen. The team is poised to be a strong contender.
To celebrate Briggs’ achievement and to watch her on her Olympic journey, viewing parties will be held at P.J. Whelihan’s in West Lawn on Saturday, Aug. 6 from 2-10pm with the game starting at 4pm, and Saturday, Aug. 13 from 5-10pm with the game beginning at 5pm. The team will play Argentina in their first match and Great Britain in their second. As an added treat, P.J. Whelihan’s will be donating 15 percent of each bill to the Berks County Field Hockey Coaches Association; just tell your waiter you’re there to watch the game! Stop by P.J. Whelihan’s to cheer on Jaclyn Briggs and Team USA!
