For twenty-five years, Ithaca High School proudly supported both a girls’ and a boys’ varsity hockey team. IHS’s inaugural season of girls’ hockey began in 1998, and it made history as the first girls’ high school hockey team in New York State. However, after twenty-five years of success, the 2022-23 season was canceled due to a lack of planning and coordination. While many overlooked this issue and continued funneling their energy into our boys’ team, girls throughout the school and even alumni were upset and saddened by the loss of the team. Now, after a missed season, the IHS Girls’ Hockey Team is back, stronger than ever, and ready to make Ithaca High School proud in their 2023-2024 season.
I spoke to Head Coach Tyler Wagenet, Assistant Coaches Devin Baylor and Madison Gneo, and three IHS players (Juju Crane ’24, Natalie Wagenet ’26, and Emerson Chiuten-Black ’26) about their hopes for the season ahead.
Zadie Wang ’26: Why did you want to get involved with IHS Girls’ Hockey?
Tyler Wagenet: I believe that there’s huge value in females playing sports in Ithaca. This is a town that celebrates girls playing sports. I want to be involved in helping that find a home again.
Devin Baylor: I played [for Ithaca High School] from seventh grade through twelfth grade and it was really sad to hear that our team had folded. So I wanted to help.
Madison Gneo: I used to play on the team too, and it sucked when we heard that there wasn’t going to be a team. But when we saw that there was going to be one and that they were looking for coaches, we were super, super excited to get back at it because that program gave us a lot.
Zadie Wang: What does this season look like for your team?
TW: Very good. We’re all excited about this team. This is a strong team. We have eighteen skaters and three goalies. We’re looking at twelve forwards and six defense, which is fantastic.
MG: They’re a talented group of girls. Probably one of the most talented groups I’ve seen at a high school level. I’m excited to see what they can do.
ZW: Why is girls’ hockey important?
TW: Women playing sports is important in general. I don’t think women get enough credit for the sports that they play. At the end of the day, hockey is one of the most difficult sports you can play, especially when you factor in the ice and the skating. The goaltender position is incredibly specialized, and to be able to be good at that—good enough to play at the high school level—is incredible.
ZW: Introduce yourselves—your name, grade, jersey number, and position.
Natalie Wagenet: My name is Natalie Wagenet, I am a sophomore. I’m number sixteen and I play defense.
Juju Crane: My name is Juju Crane, I’m a senior. My jersey number is ten, and I’m a center.
Emerson Chiuten-Black: I’m Emerson Chiuten-Black. I’m in tenth grade, my jersey number is twenty-four, and I’m a center.
ZW: What inspired you to start playing hockey?
JC: My whole family played hockey—my siblings inspired me to start.
NW: I don’t remember how I started playing hockey; I’ve just always been on the ice. Ever since I can remember, my dad has always been my coach. He’s the reason I got into hockey.
EC: I always went to the women’s games when I was really little. I also had a hockey sister and she was pretty inspiring.
ZW: How do you feel about coming back as a team after missing a season of play?
JC: I’m really happy to be back, especially since it’s my senior year. I was really sad last year when I couldn’t play. I think it’s incredible how we bounced back from having no players to having such a big and awesome team.
NW: I think it’s great to be back. I played my eighth grade year and that was fun, even though it was such a small team. Last year was kind of sad not being able to play varsity and going on the bus rides and everything. So, I’m excited to be back.
EC: I didn’t play two years ago, but I’m excited because I see some familiar faces, and I think it will be a really good group of girls. We have some good talent on [the team].
ZW: Do you think girls’ hockey and boys’ hockey are treated equally? Why or why not?
JC: You can make the argument that perhaps it’s not treated completely equally. Although, I think now it is improving.
NW: Last year was not equal in how [the boys] got to play and we didn’t. We would go to their games but we didn’t get to play our own. I think this year it’s getting a lot better, and especially Ithaca is getting a lot better at treating both the teams equally.
EC: This year we’ve already been given our practice jerseys and game jerseys. So I think we’re off to a good start.
ZW: How can IHS support girls’ hockey?
NW: Follow the Instagram. Repost, come to the games, come watch us play, bring the energy. We play well off of energy.
TW: Come out to the games, and bring as many people as you can. All home games are at the rink in Lansing. Show your pride and cheer on your classmates.