Clearview's Branco in the swim of it

Alexa Branco is a mermaid.

At least that's what Branco, Clearview's most experienced field hockey player, is planning to be on Oct. 31, which falls between Rounds 1 and 2 of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 4 playoffs.

As a center back, Branco can see the entire field ahead of her and direct the defense accordingly. As a student, the 17-year-old from a field hockey family in Mullica Hill sees the results of her labor in clothing construction class.

Branco has been making dresses, shirts, and shorts for four years, the same length of time that she has been on the varsity team. But now she's creating a mermaid Halloween costume with the same gusto with which she creates shots from corners, switching from defense to offense. She has scored 10 goals and assisted on seven.

"I chose a mermaid because my hair is long, blue is my favorite color, and I'm on the varsity swimming team for the fourth year," Branco said.

"I like sewing because it's nice to make your own clothes and design them the way you want."

Branco also enjoys her role as a sort of defensive quarterback on a team that has allowed 11 goals in 10 games and is 9-3 overall and 7-2 in the Tri-County Conference Royal Division.

Branco's knowledge of the game and experience playing it is unique on the team and possibly in South Jersey. Her mother, Lori Branco (née Paul), is a field hockey official who played the sport for four years before she graduated from Glassboro in 1982.

The last of three children born to Chris and Lori Branco, Alexa learned the sport from not only her mother, but also her older sisters. Brittany, 21, plays for Miami of Ohio. Courtney, 19, plays for Towson. Each was a four-year varsity player at Clearview.

An honors student, Alexa has committed to Delaware to play field hockey on a scholarship.

"Brittany and me play the same position," she said. "We are playmakers. Courtney plays offense. She has speed. We have endurance.

"But I had more chances to do better. More things were available to me."

The Branco girls didn't start playing field hockey competitively until they reached seventh grade and joined the Clearview Middle School team. No other field hockey teams were available to join before that.

But it didn't stop them from learning how to play.

"We had a field hockey cage in the back yard when we were younger, and both of our parents played with us," Alexa said, adding that her father had played football and baseball and wrestled at Glassboro.

Alexa played with her sister Courtney, an attack, for the last three years on the Clearview team and participated on club teams and in national tournaments in which her sisters played.

Lori Branco says that Alexa probably has more skills than her siblings did at the same age, as well as more knowledge of the sport because she was the youngest.

Clearview coach Britney Ewan appreciates Branco's knowledge and defensive skills, as well as her shot selection on corners. Branco can drive the ball, flick it, lift it, or slap aerials as long as they are not deemed dangerous by the officials.

In other words, she is much more than just a mermaid.

Watch video with Clearview field hockey player

Alexa Branco at

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