PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

From a one-time state champion to a national champion. Boy, ddi she know how to pick a college.

Let’s just say that the Palmyra field hockey program prepared Jess Dembrowski well to compete at the next, very high level.

Dembrowski, a 2017 graduate of Palmyra High School, recently won an NCAA Division One national championship as a freshman with the University of Connecticut field hockey team. Late last month, Dembrowski and the Huskies defeated Maryland 2-1 at Trager Stadium in Louisville, Kentucky.

The win completed UConn’s undefeated 23-0 season, and it was the Huskies’ third NCAA Division One national in the last five years. But their first one with Dembrowski in the fold.

As a rookie, Dembrowski started all 23 games for the Huskies, tallied seven goals and notched five assists. Two of Dembrwoski’s goals were game-winners.

As a sophomore at Palmyra in 2014, Dembrowski played an integral role in the Cougars winning a Class AAA PIAA championship.

Dembrowski’s teammate at Palmyra, Cheyenne Sprecher served as a freshman reserve goalkeeper for UConn this season.

 – Jeff Falk