Christmas photo of the Sabiti family.
The Indians were doing great.
The 2023 varsity field hockey team played suffocating defense while the offense provided timely goal scoring.
With time running out in the game, IRHS head coach Tory Hack and his coaching staff began celebrating the victory.
Volunteer assistant coach Carrie Savity couldn't hide her joy and happiness.
“When I see my players succeed, it's great knowing I helped them along the way,” said Sabiiti, an active social leader who lives near Dagsboro. “As an assistant coach, I have to figure out what my players are passionate about, how they get motivated, how they respond to feedback, among other things.”
“We always tell our players that we can't do it for them,” Sviti added. “We give them the tools, but they have to put it all together, both individually and as a team, to make it work. We have 20-30 players and each one has their own way of doing things.”
Feeling comfortable as a leader
Saviti, a volunteer assistant coach on Huq's staff, said he feels comfortable in a leadership position. Saviti served as membership director for the Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce from 2005 to 2010 and as executive director for the chamber from 2010 to 2012. He currently serves as office manager for Marnie Custom Homes, a Bethany Beach-based homebuilding company.
Her husband, John Savity, a former Millville City Councilman, was recently promoted to co-owner of the NAHB Custom Home Builder of the Year for 2022. The couple have three sons, Gray, 12, and Ty and Max, both 10.
“Effective leadership is about understanding people from all walks of life and helping them reach their full potential and abilities,” said Carrie Savity, who will begin her third year as IRHS girls field hockey coach this fall. “The chamber has over 800 members, and staff needed to understand the needs of each of them and help their businesses succeed.”
“A team of 20-30 high school athletes isn't that different from a chamber team,” she is quick to add, “The key is understanding what motivates them. Our job as coaches is to understand what motivates each athlete and how we can use their strengths to help them succeed on the playing field and in the classroom.”
Sabiiti's favorite message to send to student-athletes is a quote from an article one of her teammates gave her before her final collegiate field hockey tournament game as a member of the Ohio University Bobcats.
“The article is about how you feel when your career is over and what kind of legacy you leave behind for players who may wear your number in the future,” Sviti said. “It's about being legendary and what that means. Did you give it your all on the field? What does it give us that we're doing that our opponents aren't doing? [an advantage]Rather than playing as 11 individuals, play as a unified entity?
“Above all, the message is that you should celebrate success,” she added. “I really encourage the girls to celebrate wins, even the little things like during practice or hitting a great shot. I promote this heavily. Above all, I want it to be fun. I know it will be over soon. I want them to only remember their time on the team as rewarding and fun. Now, as a coach, I give copies of that article to my seniors before their final game of the season. I hope it means as much to them as it did to me as a player all those years ago.”
Field Hockey Student Leaders
The student-athletes she coaches pay close attention to Sabiity, who speaks from her experience at the highest level of sports: She played four years of varsity field hockey at Caesar Rodney High School in Camden, earning DIAA all-state honors before graduating in 1996. She also participated in competitive swimming, played one year of soccer and three seasons of tennis.
Sabiity graduated from Ohio University in 2000 with a degree in organizational communications and also played four seasons of NCAA Division I field hockey. She was captain her junior and senior years and earned All-Mid-American Conference Tournament recognition in her final season.
Sabiiti, who was a graduate assistant with the Bobcats in 2000, served as head coach at Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and currently serves as the U-12 coach for the Delaware Shore field hockey travel team. He has also run marathons and participated in several biathlons and triathlons.
Her coaching philosophy demands that student-athletes give their best effort during practices and games.
“Hard work brings many rewards,” she said. “You have to practice like you're going to play in a game. I love inspiring leadership and teamwork. I love developing young student-athletes and empowering them to inspire and lead by example others. These are qualities that help student-athletes succeed in many areas of life.”
Sabiiti also knows the lessons she teaches with Huq, varsity assistant coach Molly Chamberlain Lundy and assistants Mya Parks and Jenna Albright aren’t just about the game of field hockey.
“These lessons also speak to life,” she said, “helping our student-athletes realize not only their potential on the playing field, but their potential in life. I hope these lessons will serve them well for years to come.”
Sabiity thanked his father, Pete Basile, who was his high school and college wrestling coach in the 1970s and 1980s and was inducted into the Delaware Wrestling Hall of Fame.
“What stands out the most is that he was always a student of the sport,” Sabiity said. “Despite all the success, including the team's conference and state titles, he never stopped learning more. He attended clinics, traveled to scout other teams, did his research. He was always striving to improve himself, be a better coach for his team and help his wrestlers reach their full potential.”
“He was also known for his enthusiasm for encouragement. He was the cheer leader for the students, encouraging them to do their best. He still receives calls and emails from former athletes from 30 and 40 years ago. He had a huge impact on the lives of his students, and not just because of their accomplishments on the mat.”
Sabouti is already thinking about the Indians' 2024 field hockey campaign.
“I think we can have great success next season if we play as a team from the moment we step on the field,” she emphasized. “We have great players! If we play together, very few teams can beat us. The players need to be committed to keeping their hands on the sticks during the off-season so they can come into pre-season in top condition. We've seen glimpses of great talent from our players over the past few seasons. We have the potential and the players need to believe in it.”
