Wake Forest Athletics
Photo by: Seth Seebaugh / Wake Forest Athletics
Averill Signs Eight to 2026 Class
2/5/2026 11:34:00 AM | Field Hockey
The Demon Deacons add talent at all three levels of the pitch and in the cage with the 2026 freshman class.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest field hockey and head coach Jen Averill have eight talented student-athletes announced to the squad ahead of the 2026 campaign.
"This 2026 signing class is a really strong group of eight student-athletes who address key areas of need for our program," Averill said. "They play with confidence, toughness and a high level of skill, and we believe they have the ability to make an impact early. We're excited about the direction we're heading and the energy this class brings."
The class builds on the Demon Deacons' strong international, Northeast and Southern presence, with six student-athletes from the United States, along with additions from Canada and South Africa.
Amelia Blood | Back | Uxbridge High School | Uxbridge, Mass.
"This 2026 signing class is a really strong group of eight student-athletes who address key areas of need for our program," Averill said. "They play with confidence, toughness and a high level of skill, and we believe they have the ability to make an impact early. We're excited about the direction we're heading and the energy this class brings."
The class builds on the Demon Deacons' strong international, Northeast and Southern presence, with six student-athletes from the United States, along with additions from Canada and South Africa.
Amelia Blood | Back | Uxbridge High School | Uxbridge, Mass.
- 5x State Champion (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
- 5x Central Massachusetts League Champion (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
- MAX Field Hockey National Team Ranking #21 (2025)
- NFHCA All-American x2 (2024, 2025)
- MAX Field Hockey All-American (2024)
- MAX Field Hockey Class of 2026 Top 50
- NFHCA New England All Region team x4 (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
- MAX Field Hockey New England All-Region team x3 (2022, 2023, 2024, list not out yet for 2025)
- Central Mass League All-Star x5 (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
- Telegram and Gazette Super Team x4 (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
- Massachusetts State Field Hockey Coaches Association Best of 60 Senior All-Star (2025)
- Massachusetts State Field Hockey Coaches Association Academic All-Star Team (2024, 2025)
- USA Field Hockey u16 National Team (2024)
- USA Field Hockey u18 National Team Selection Camp (2025)
- AAU Junior Olympics x2 (2022, 2023) Gold medal and Joel Farrell Outstanding Performance Award (2023)
- USA Field Hockey Nexus Championship x3 (2022, 2023, 2024) Gold medal (2022) Silver medal (2024)
- College Connection Under Armour Select Game
- 2025 BC High School Field Hockey AA Provincial Championship; Silver Medal (Team Captain)
- 2025 North Shore and Vancouver Regional Field Hockey AA Champions (Team Captain)
- 2025 North Shore Field Hockey Regional All-Star Team
- 2025 Rockridge Secondary Varsity Basketball Defensive Player of the Year
- 2025 Rockridge Secondary Grade 11 Athlete of the Year
- 2024 Rockridge Secondary Senior Field Hockey Defensive Player of the Year
- 2024 North Shore Junior High School Soccer – Premier Division Champions
- 2024 Rockridge Secondary Junior Basketball MVP
- 2024 Rockridge Secondary Grade 10 Athlete of the Year
- 2023 Rockridge Secondary Senior Field Hockey MVP
- 2023 Rockridge Secondary Junior Basketball MVP
- 2023 Rockridge Secondary Grade 9 Athlete of the Year
- 2022 North Shore Senior Field Hockey Champions
- 2022 Rockridge Secondary Senior Field Hockey MVP
- 2022 Rockridge Secondary Grade 8 Basketball MVP
- 2022 Rockridge Secondary Grade 8 Athlete of the Year
- 2025 Canada U21 Junior National Team Selection: Junior PanAm Games, Asuncion, Paraguay
- 2025 Canada U18 National Team Selection: France Tour
- 2024 Canada U18 National Team Selection: UK Tour
- 2024 BC Provincial U18 Team Selection: National Champions
- 2023 Canada U16 National Team Selection: Netherlands Tour
- 2022 Canada U16 National Team Selection: USA Series
- 2025 BC U18 Club Championship: Gold Medal (Team Captain)
- 2023-2026 Selected for West Vancouver Field Hockey Club Premier Division team (2023 League Champions)
- 2024 Cal Cup U19 Gold Medal, Rob Short Coaching Academy
- 2023 Shooting Stars November Pool B Gold Medal Winner, Rob Short Coaching Academy
- 2022 BC CU14 Club Championship: Global Medal
- School record holder in career goals, assists, and points (73G, 82A, 228pts)
- 3x Regional Preseason Player to Watch (2023-25)
- 4x First Team All County (2022-25)
- 3x First Team All Conference (2023-25)
- NFHCA First Team All-Region 2024
- MAXFH First Team All-Region 2024
- 3x First Team All North Jersey (2023-25)
- 3x Team MVP (2023-25)
- 2024 U16 USA National Team member
- Participated in the Four Nations International Tournament in Valkenswaard, Netherlands
- 2025 U18 USA National Team member
- First place in Six Nations International Tournament in Valencia, Spain
- 2026 USA Senior Indoor National Team member
- Big Apple International indoor tournament
- Varsity Captain
- Kentucky All-State Second Team
- 2025 State Champion
- MAX FH Top Performer 2024
- Top 150 Players Class of 2026
- (South Oldham school) (7th grade) High school Varsity starter in 2020, Defensive MVP, KY High school preseason tournament all tournament team
- (South Oldham school) (8th grade) 2021 high school varsity starter, Team captain, team MVP
- (Christian Academy of Louisville) (9th grade) 2022 Started varsity, State semifinalist
- (Christian Academy of Louisville) (10th grade) 2023 varsity starter, KY Region 2 All-Tournament team, KY All-State first team, KY State tournament All-tournament team, State Champion, Christian Academy of Louisville (CAL) impact player, MAX Field hockey high school West/Midwest region second team
- (Christian Academy of Louisville) (11th grade) 2024 Varsity starter, NFHCA High school All-American second team, KY region 2 all tournament team, KY All-state first team, KY state tournament All-Tournament team, CAL varsity defensive MVP, State semifinalist, MAX Field hockey high school: West/Midwest player to watch, West/Midwest region first team, MAX high school all American second team
- (Christian Academy of Louisville) (12th grade) 2025 Varsity starter, KY region 2 all tournament team, KY All-state first team, KY state tournament All-Tournament team, CAL team MVP, named best leader, State Runner-up, NFHCA All-American first team
- MAX Field Hockey Class of 2026 Player ranking Top 50
- MAX Field Hockey Class of 2026 Top 100 Player to Watch
- MAX Field Hockey Class of 2026 Top 150 National Player Invitational Participant (Rated top goalkeeper)
- 2021 Competed in Nexus Championship
- 2022 Competed in Nexus Championship, selected for AAU junior Olympic Games, played/selected for Stars and Stripes
- 2023 Selected for U16 selection camp, competed in Nexus Championship
- 2024 Competed in Nexus Championship, Made USAFH Indoor Junior National Team
- 2025 Competed in Nexus Championship, Made USAFH Indoor Women's National Team
- 2025
- Max Field Hockey High School Watchlist
- Varsity Senior Captain
- First Team All-Metro
- First Team All-Conference GISL
- U21 Nexus Championship - First Place
- 2024
- Varsity Junior Captain
- First Team All-Metro
- First Team All-Conference GISL
- Missouri State Champion
- Max Field Hockey Top 100 - Class of 2026
- U18 Nexus Championship
- 2023
- First Team All-Conference GISL
- 2023 NFHCA High School Watchlist
- Max Field Hockey Top 100 players to watch - Class of 2026
- 2022
- Under Armour Select Game 2022 Selection
- Second Team All-MWAA
- Missouri State Champion
- MAX FH Class of 2026 - TOP 100
- First Place- U21 Nexus National 2025
- Selected for Nexus National '21, '22, '23, '24, '25
- AAU U16 Junior Olympic Games (2021)
- Runner Up at National Club Championship 2024
- Third-place finish at National Club Championship
- Member of the National Club of the Year 2024
- Academic Honors all four years
- 2024 NFHCA All-American Third Team,
- All -State (SPC) '25, '24, '23.
- Varsity Field Hockey MVP '25, '24, and '23.
- NFHCA All- Region Player '24, '25, '23
- MAX FH - 2024 High School Preseason Regional Player to Watch,
- MAX FH - 2024 High School Invitational Top Performer,
- NFHCA High School Watchlist '24, '25,
- MAX FH- All West/Mid West Region Second Team '24
- Totaled 95+ goals at Episcopal High School over four years
- 2025 South Africa U18 Team
- 2024 South Africa U17 Team
- 2024 South Africa U18 Team
- 2024 South Africa U21 Team
- 2023 South Africa U16 Team SA
- 2024 U18 Top Goal Scorer Inter Provincial
- 2024-25 Southern Free State U18 Team
- 2022-23 Southern Free State U16 Team
- 2021 Southern Free State U14 Team
- Most promising First Team Hockey player 2022
- Best U16 Hockey Player 2023
- Best Senior Hockey Player of the Year 2024
- Best Senior Hockey Player of the Year 2025
- Sportswomen of the year 2024
- St Mary's Player of the Tournament 2024
- St Mary's Top Goal Scorer 2024
- Sportswomen of the year 2025
Players Mentioned
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