PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains field hockey pitch was renamed Meilinger Field this past week in honor of Richard Meilinger, who coached the team for 26 years before retiring in 2012.
Meilinger built the program into a powerhouse, compiling a career record of 324 wins, 102 losses and 49 ties.
Under his leadership, Pine Plains won 15 league championships, nine sectional titles and three New York State regional championships. The team also recorded 50 consecutive wins between 2003 and 2008.
Meilinger was honored on Sunday, Oct. 11 with an alumni game and dedication ceremony attended by over 100 family, friends, and former players. Meilinger, in his signature white bucket hat, received a plaque and tributes from Pine Plains alumni and field hockey coaches Sarah Beam, Nanette Simione, Carrie Williams, and Miranda Bower.
They emphasized Meilinger’s kindness, compassion, humor, and support throughout the years.
His daughter, Missy Meilinger, spoke about how her childhood coincided with the passage of Title IX, which prohibited discrimination based on sex in education programs and athletics.
“It wasn’t all that long ago that most girls never got a chance to play at all,” she said. “I’d like to think that today’s women athletes were standing on the shoulders of my generation, and that we were lifted up by people like my dad.”
Finally, it was Coach Meilinger’s turn to speak. Choking back tears, he shared memories from his decades coaching, and shared what he saw were the keys to being a successful coach and mentor.
“I always believed a team plays better when they’re having fun,” Meilinger said. “I don’t remember the scores, but I remember the people. The girls who played, the parents who showed up in the rain and the cold. So this field may have my name on it, but it really belongs to all of them — every coach, every assistant, player, and their parents who dedicated their time and effort.”
This is the first field dedication in Pine Plains athletics history.
Richard Meilinger, left, addresses the crowd after receiving recognition for his 26 years leading the Pine Plains varsity field hockey team.Photo by Graham Corrigan
Meg Sher, executive director of the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village.L. Tomaino 
