STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford field hockey head coach Roz Ellis has unveiled an exceptional class of eight incoming student-athletes in the class of 2023. Mia Clark, Star Horlock, Liv Martin, Puja Nanjappa, Kate Nemec, Claire Nockolds, Esther Pottebaum and Gemma Townsend will begin their collegiate careers in the fall.
"We can't wait to get these eight on campus with our returning squad," said head coach Roz Ellis. "Each of them will bring their own uniqueness to the team on and off the pitch. It is going to be exciting to watch new connections form as they strive to push in both the classroom and athletics."
The eight incoming players, listed below in detail, join a Cardinal program on the rise. Four Cardinal student-athletes earned All-America East accolades last season, while the entire roster earned a plethora of academic honors.
"Freshman year is always intimating, we take pride in the culture they are entering," continued Ellis. "This group works hard, they want to win. They know being here will be about being brave in taking risk, failing, getting back up - growing together. What more can you ask for?"Mia Clark | D | 5-3 | San Diego, Calif. | Canyon Hills
Before Stanford
- Member of USA Field Hockey Rise Women's National Team. Previously played for U16 national team, two-time silver medalist at the USAFH Senior Nexus Tournament. Part of Nexus program since 2018.
- 2022 Max Field Hockey California Player of the Year
- Two-time Max Field Hockey High School All-America third team (2021, 2022). NFHCA third team All-American (2022)
- On 2022 USA Today Field Hockey watch list
- Recognized as top-10 recruit by Max Field Hockey
- Two-time CIF San Diego Section Player of the Year (2021, 2022), selected to CIF San Diego first team twice (2021, 2022). On the Max Field Hockey All-West/Midwest Region first team both years.
- 2021 and 2022 San Diego City Western League Player of the Year
- Four-year letterwinner, two-year captain at Canyon Hills. Won school's Most Outstanding Defense award, MVP at Berger Invitational
- Led Canyon Hills to a 26-0 record and San Diego Open Division CIF Championship in 2022, scored the game-winning goal with just 10 seconds left.
- Reached CIF Playoffs in 2021, advanced to championship game in 2019.
Personal
- Parents are John and Myda Clark
- Has five siblings: Spencer, Madison, Kale'a, Taylor and Jac
Star Horlock | M/F | 5-7 | Salisbury, England | Marlborough College
Before Stanford
- Part of England national team system, member of U18 Jr. National England squad
- Won 2022 England U18 Relentless Award
- Two-time Marlborough College MVP (2021, 2022)
- Led Marlborough in scoring in 2021
- Also competed in track and cross country, ran in national finals in 2017 in the 1500m and represented South-West in regional cross country championships
Personal
- Parents are Natashya and Nigel Horlock
- Has four siblings: Hugo, Piers, Sebastian and Orlando
Liv Martin | M | 5-8 | Cranleigh, England | Cranleigh Senior School
Before Stanford
- Part of England national team system. Selected to national age group squads in 2021 and 2023, on Futures team in 2022. Member of U16 Jr. National England squad.
- Reached indoor national title game three times with Cranleigh, won U16 title in 2018 and 2019. Reached outdoor quarterfinals in 2019, semifinals in 2021
- Two-time Cranleigh MVP in 2021 and 2022. Captained 2022-23 team.
- Won Surbiton Club Hockey U18 National Championship in 2021, previously captured U14 national title
- Played seven sports at Cranleigh: field hockey, cross country, track & field, swimming, tennis, netball and indoor hockey
Personal
- Parents are Elizabeth and Neil Martin
- Has one brother, Maximilian
- Father, Neil, competed in England youth national team system in rugby, basketball and cricket, played cricket and rugby at Oxford University
Puja Nanjappa | D | 5-0 | Clarksville, Md. | River Hill
Before Stanford
- Recognized as top-50 recruit by Max Field Hockey
- Two-time Junior Premier League MVP (2021, 2022)
- Played on Nexus Stars and Stripes team, two-time participant at Nexus Championship tournament
- All-State honoree in 2020 (HM) and 2021 (second team), two-time all-county selection
- USA Today HSSA Field Hockey Watch List, Max Field Hockey Mid-Atlantic Region Player to Watch (2022)
- Led River Hill to state semifinals in 2019, state championship game in 2021
- Also lettered on soccer team, captained field hockey team in 2022
Personal
- Parents are Chandra Nanjappa and Chitra Reddy
- Has one brother, Anish
- Brother, Anish, is on the cross country team at Columbia
Kate Nemec | M | 5-5 | Darien, Conn. | Sacred Heart Greenwich
Before Stanford
- 2022 Varsity A Field Hockey Most Valuable Player
- Two-time All-NEPSAC, including a first team honor in 2021
- FAA All-League second team and All-Northeast Region second team in 2021
- Led team to three FAA Championships (2019-22) and one NEPSAC Championship (2021)
- Captured two FAA Tournament Championships (2018, 2021) and one NEPSAC Tournament Championship (2019)
- On NFHCA High School National Academic squad
- Played varsity field hockey as an eighth grader
Personal
- Parents are David and Kristin Nemec
- Has three siblings: Grace, Caroline and Charly
- Sister, Caroline, plays for field hockey team at Virginia
Claire Nockolds | D/M | 5-4 | Houston, Texas | The Kincaid School
Before Stanford
- Led top-five nationally ranked team in 2022, finished as Southern Preparatory Conference (SPC) runner up
- All-South-Zone SPC selection in 2022
- All-SPC selection in 2021
- SPC Champion in 2021, runner up in 2019
- Houston City Champions in 2020
- Four-year letterwinner and senior year captain at Kincaid
- Also a three-year varsity member of the soccer program
Personal
- Parents are David and Wendy Nockolds
- Has two siblings, Grace and Cole
- Sister, Grace, plays field hockey at Johns Hopkins
Esther Pottebaum | M | 5-8 | St. Albans, Mo. | John Burroughs School
Before Stanford
- Three-time first team All-Metro League (2020-22), honorable mention in 2019.
- Led Burroughs to the state championship game in 2022
- Two-time St. Louis Post Dispatch All-Metro selection (second team 2021, third team 2020)
- 2017-22 Nexus Championship selection
- Led field hockey team to top-three finishes in each season, including two runner-up placements.
- Four-year letterwinner and senior year captain at John Burroughs
- Also lettered on swimming, basketball and lacrosse teams. Led lacrosse team to third in state in 2021, earned top seed in 2023.
- MSHSAA Award of Excellence (2023)
- Recipient of St. Louis Sports Commission's Carl Fricks Sportsmanship Scholarship
- On NFHCA National Academic Squad
Personal
- Parents are Joseph and Michelle Pottebaum
- Has five siblings: John, Josh, Caleb, Micah and Grace
- Sister, Grace, plays field hockey at North Carolina
- Brother, Josh, is a safety on the football team at DePauw
- Grandfather, Don Pruett, played baseball at Yale
- Great-grandfather, Hubert Pruett, played professional baseball for the Phillies and Browns
Gemma Townsend | F | 5-5 | Esther, England | Reed's School
Before Stanford
- Part of England national team system, captained 2021 England Hockey Futures Cup. Member of U16 Jr. National England squad.
- U18 Independent School quarterfinalist and U18 England Hockey Tier 1 National Cup quarterfinalist (2021). Previous reached finals at U14/U16 levels.
- Coaches Player of the Year (2021), won Reed's Golden Stick Award in 2021 and 2022.
- U18 England Hockey Club Champions
- Represented Surbiton Hockey Club in Ladies 1's in the EH Premier League
- Captained field hockey and cricket teams at Reed's School
- Also played netball, tennis, soccer and cricket at Reed's School
- Club cricket team Coaches' Player of the Year
Personal
- Parents are Marc and Tracey Townsend
- Has two siblings: James and Kristin