By Andy Loigu

The Popinko sisters, Toni, Tori and Tali, have been instrumental in the success of the Warren Hills field hockey program for the past decade and a half.

Tali, the youngest, in signing to attend and play for the Owls of Temple University, recently became the third of this group of extraordinary siblings to commit to a Division One college program. She follows in the footsteps of Toni (University of Delaware) and Tori (St. Joseph’s University).

Tori, who now works in the world of marketing and advertising as an account executive for BBDO Worldwide, gives the credit to her father, James, for introducing them to the sport and giving them the love for playing that it takes to practice with the intensity which brings success.

Toni (the oldest) and Tori were eight and seven years old when they were cheerleaders (coached by their mom Sylvia). When the field hockey program was offered, their dad signed them up and the rest is history. “After our first try at it, we wanted to continue. After that first season, we knew we wanted to continue playing,” Tori recalled.

“I actually remember when Toni and I were maybe in third and fourth grade, we went on a family vacation to the beach and we had practices that week, that our dad drove us two hours back and forth from our vacation home,” Tori added. “Just to make youth league practice.”

That’s the kind of dedication it takes to be good at a competitive sport.

Toni won three varsity letters at Delaware. She played in 68 games, scoring 14 career goals and dealing 12 assists. In 2013 the Fighting Blue Hens won a program record 17 games and earned an NCAA tournament bid. Toni was an important part of making all that happen.

At Warren Hills she was honored by two major daily papers as Player of the Year for their circulation areas and earned All State honors. A four-year letter winner for coach Laurie Kerr, she led the team on the field as the Blue Streaks won conference, Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex and sectional championships and had a composite record of 68-19-2. She earned Most Valuable Player honors for a team which went 21-3-1 in her senior season of 2009. Toni scored 39 goals and 39 assists in her splendid Warren Hills career.

Tori (who scored on many of those assists) carried on the tradition, graduating from Warren Hills the following year with 25 goals and 25 assists in a three-year varsity career.

Oddly enough, they played against each other in a 3-1 Delaware win (aided by a goal that Toni scored) over St. Joe’s, Since they both were forwards, they did not “confront” each other on the field because they were attacking opposite goals.

Tali (class of 2018) has finished her career with 38 goals and 37 assists for the Blue Streaks. Her career as an Owl beckons.

Those of us who have enjoyed watching the polished and proficient Popinko sisters play and were happy to see Warren Hills win games and championships again and again, can thank “Papa Popinko” for being the “driving force” inspiring their success.

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Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.