ALYSON KIRK SETZER COACH YEAR OF INDUCTION: 2023 If we can sum up Alyson Kirk Setzer's importance to the field hockey program at Steinert High School it is with the following which comes in the voice of one of her star players: "My field hockey career at Steinert would not have been what it was without Setzer," said Kristi Cady (please note that when her players and colleagues call her Setzer it is with the utmost respect). "I showed up late summer for a camp never having picked up a stick before. "I didn't know the first thing about field hockey but anyone who talked to me said it would be 'great for my hand-eye coordination' for softball season in the spring. I figured I'd give it a shot. Setzer - literally -- taught me everything I know about the sport. Her knowledge, sure, but her passion is what really ignited me on the field." Cady was a three-sport athlete at SHS who earned 11 varsity letters and captained the field hockey, girls' basketball and softball teams. She went on to complete a banner softball career at St. John's University. The lessons she learned, and the memories made under Setzer's tutelage rank extremely high on an impressive list of teachers and coaches. The impact that Setzer has had in Hamilton Township and beyond is impressive. Through her work with youth programs in field hockey to her touch of magic with the teams at Steinert, she has been a true ambassador for the sport and its players. "She was the field hockey coach and the amazing thing is, I didn't know much about field hockey," said Rich Giallella, who has worn many hats at SHS, including being the Athletic Director. "Watching her coach was an enjoyment. She was a passionate coach, a disciplined coach - she knew how to push the right buttons for her kids. Her kids were playing a sport that no kids played until they got to high school and she as able to win, which I thought was amazing, two championships. She won those two major championships against two really good teams." The Spartans won state sectional championships in 2000 and 2007. "I consider her a teacher because she had to teach the game to kids coming in as ninth-graders with no experience. She also made sure that she had three teams (varsity, junior varsity, freshmen) every year and not everybody was able to do that." Another one of the very best field hockey players to come out of Steinert also came in as a newbie and left as an all-star and has Setzer to thank for it. "It was an absolute honor and pleasure to have Alyson Setzer as my Coach during the three years I played Varsity Field Hockey at Steinert," said Susie Balidemaj, who joins Setzer in the Hall of Fame's Class of 2023. "She is compassionate, patient, optimistic, and goal-oriented, all of which make her not only a great person but a great coach too. Even though I was a late-comer to this sport, Coach Setzer saw potential in me and she always pushed me to be the best player I could be. She is the reason why I fell in love with this sport and I continued to play throughout high school and in college -- I will forever be thankful for that."   Balidemaj enjoyed a wonderful field hockey career at Stockton University and had much success and acclaim as one of the Ospreys' all-time top players. Before her success as a coach, when she was known as Alyson Kirk, she earned seven varsity letters -- three in field hockey, two in softball and two as a diver with the swim program at SHS. She also made her mark - accompanied by two other Steinert field hockey alumnae, sisters Jean and Carol Whitehouse - and helped Pfeiffer win an NCAA Division II title in 1981, the first year of D-II field hockey. RETURN TO THE HALL OF FAME MEMBERS PAGE