University of Delaware Athletics
Women’s 50th Profile: Anne Brooking (’83), Field Hockey, Lacrosse
5/14/2020 10:00:00 AM | Field Hockey, Women's Lacrosse
After spending a year and a half at nearby West Chester University, where she helped lead the Golden Rams field hockey team to the 1978 AIAW national championship, Anne Brooking transferred to Delaware in the summer of 1980 and made an immediate impact with two Blue Hen programs.
Brooking met then UD field hockey coach Mary Ann Hitchens at a summer camp at Smith College, and the idea of playing for her as well as Janet Smith, UD's women's lacrosse coach who had coached Brooking at Tatnall, drew her to Newark.
"At Delaware I was coached by two of the great coaches in women's athletics," Brooking said. "They both had great knowledge, emphasized a team concept, and had great dedication to their players and the university."
"I'm probably the only player in the country who was coached by the same person in middle school, high school and college," Brooking noted, as she was coached by Smith in middle school basketball, and well as field hockey and lacrosse in high school.
Brooking made an immediate impact in both sports at Delaware, earning multiple All-American honors for each program. The coaching philosophy of both Hitchens and Smith made it a smooth transition.
"It was an easy transition, both teams had great chemistry and I never felt like a newcomer," Brooking explained. "The combination of the way the teams were coached, the fact that they were highly successful, and that I didn't have to sit out a year, all appealed to me."
She garnered Mitchell & Ness All-American honors during her two seasons with the UD field hockey team in 1980 and 1981, helping lead the Blue Hens to 23 combined wins during that time and earning UD Alumni Association Team MVP honors in 1981.
Brooking enjoyed even greater success with the women's lacrosse program, as she starred for three years from 1981-83. Brooking also was twice named an All-American, earning the honor in both 1982 and 1983. Additionally, she was selected All-Region both seasons, was a first team All-East Coast Conference pick in 1983, and was named the UD Alumni Association Team MVP during all three seasons.
Led by Smith, the Blue Hens were dominant during Brooking's three seasons with a stellar 45-5 record, winning AIAW national titles in both 1981 and 1982 before claiming the NCAA crown the following year. Brooking was one of three Hens selected to the 1983 NCAA All-Tournament Team, along with Karen Emas (MVP), Missy Meharg and Linda Schmidt.
Although she earned numerous individual honors, Brooking stressed that the team's chemistry was the biggest factor in UD's success.
"We had the right kids at the right time with the right coach," Brooking stressed. "Each athlete did her job, no one stood out above anyone else, and our chemistry was terrific. The last thing Coach Smith said to us before every game was to have fun, and we did."
Brooking, a defender on both the field hockey and women's lacrosse squads, was named the 1982 UD Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year as well as the university's Outstanding Student Teacher.
Recognized as one of the school's all-time greatest female athletes, Brooking was a member of the inaugural UD Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997.
Brooking's prolific career continued following her time in Newark, as she was a member of the U.S. National Team in both sports. She played with the Under 21 National Field Hockey Team in 1980 and was also a member of the 1981 U.S. Field Hockey first team, the American Cup Team and the U.S. Touring Team.
In 1982 Brooking played with the 1982 U.S. Women's World Championship lacrosse team, and the following year was on the U.S. Olympic Field Hockey Training Squad and won the Southland Corporation "Olympia" award.
Brooking spent 25 years as the field hockey coach at Wilmington Friends School, before taking over the same position in 2013 at Sanford School, where she remains today. Brooking, who also coached lacrosse at both schools, was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum & Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Delaware Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame in 2000
Brooking met then UD field hockey coach Mary Ann Hitchens at a summer camp at Smith College, and the idea of playing for her as well as Janet Smith, UD's women's lacrosse coach who had coached Brooking at Tatnall, drew her to Newark.
"At Delaware I was coached by two of the great coaches in women's athletics," Brooking said. "They both had great knowledge, emphasized a team concept, and had great dedication to their players and the university."
"I'm probably the only player in the country who was coached by the same person in middle school, high school and college," Brooking noted, as she was coached by Smith in middle school basketball, and well as field hockey and lacrosse in high school.
Brooking made an immediate impact in both sports at Delaware, earning multiple All-American honors for each program. The coaching philosophy of both Hitchens and Smith made it a smooth transition.
"It was an easy transition, both teams had great chemistry and I never felt like a newcomer," Brooking explained. "The combination of the way the teams were coached, the fact that they were highly successful, and that I didn't have to sit out a year, all appealed to me."
She garnered Mitchell & Ness All-American honors during her two seasons with the UD field hockey team in 1980 and 1981, helping lead the Blue Hens to 23 combined wins during that time and earning UD Alumni Association Team MVP honors in 1981.
Brooking enjoyed even greater success with the women's lacrosse program, as she starred for three years from 1981-83. Brooking also was twice named an All-American, earning the honor in both 1982 and 1983. Additionally, she was selected All-Region both seasons, was a first team All-East Coast Conference pick in 1983, and was named the UD Alumni Association Team MVP during all three seasons.
Led by Smith, the Blue Hens were dominant during Brooking's three seasons with a stellar 45-5 record, winning AIAW national titles in both 1981 and 1982 before claiming the NCAA crown the following year. Brooking was one of three Hens selected to the 1983 NCAA All-Tournament Team, along with Karen Emas (MVP), Missy Meharg and Linda Schmidt.
Although she earned numerous individual honors, Brooking stressed that the team's chemistry was the biggest factor in UD's success.
"We had the right kids at the right time with the right coach," Brooking stressed. "Each athlete did her job, no one stood out above anyone else, and our chemistry was terrific. The last thing Coach Smith said to us before every game was to have fun, and we did."
Brooking, a defender on both the field hockey and women's lacrosse squads, was named the 1982 UD Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year as well as the university's Outstanding Student Teacher.
Recognized as one of the school's all-time greatest female athletes, Brooking was a member of the inaugural UD Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997.
Brooking's prolific career continued following her time in Newark, as she was a member of the U.S. National Team in both sports. She played with the Under 21 National Field Hockey Team in 1980 and was also a member of the 1981 U.S. Field Hockey first team, the American Cup Team and the U.S. Touring Team.
In 1982 Brooking played with the 1982 U.S. Women's World Championship lacrosse team, and the following year was on the U.S. Olympic Field Hockey Training Squad and won the Southland Corporation "Olympia" award.
Brooking spent 25 years as the field hockey coach at Wilmington Friends School, before taking over the same position in 2013 at Sanford School, where she remains today. Brooking, who also coached lacrosse at both schools, was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum & Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Delaware Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame in 2000
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