‘Everyone’s watching her’: Borghese, Thomas Worthington eye fourth consecutive state field hockey title
Tuesday, August 26, 2025
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Senior Sophia Borghese (2) is introduced earlier this season. The Miami University commit has scored the winning state championship goal the past three seasons. File photo
Thomas Worthington senior Meredith Estepp always wondered what was going through the mind of her teammate Sophia Borghese as she ran down the field.
It was an interesting question considering most opposing teams are focused on Borghese first. After all, the senior forward is the top scorer on the Thomas Worthington field hockey team, three-time reigning state champions.
Not only that, but Borghese has the distinction of scoring the game-winning goal in all three of the Cardinals’ state title wins, including the first two where she did it in overtime.
“All I see is red hair and I’m just yelling at her – mostly from behind her,” Estepp said, noting Borghese’s speed. “I don’t know if she realizes the impact she has on field hockey in Ohio. I mean, everyone is looking at her and everyone’s watching her.”
Borghese brushed off that her success was anything other than a team effort.
“It’s not just me – it was completely the team,” she said. “For example, Julie Conroy in our freshman year, she tied it up. (The game-winning goals) wouldn’t have happened if certain people had not stepped up.
“Our team has really made it possible. So, I think it’s more of a team thing than just me scoring. I wouldn’t have gotten the (shots) off (if) the defense hadn’t outleted (the ball) to me multiple times. I mean, the opportunity was because our team got us there.”
Sophia Borghese, who is the ultimate team player, works well in the spotlight as the leading scorer for the Thomas Worthington Cardinals. File photo
Borghese, Estepp and senior defender Jaidyn Gussler, along with junior goalie Mae Conroy, gives Thomas a solid nucleus as it seeks to win the title for a fourth consecutive year – something that has not been achieved by any team in OHSAA history.
Borghese, a Miami University commit, had 29 goals and 24 assists last season in leading the Cardinals to a 17-5-1 overall record, including an 8-0 mark to win the Central Ohio Field Hockey League West Division.
“Honestly, I don’t even know what I think of (when I’m out there),” Borghese said. “I think I do best when I don’t think, and I go back to my basics. So, when I do think about it, it doesn’t work out. But when I don’t, that’s when it actually works out.”
Borghese was first-team all-state and all-league and was also named first-team West/Mid-West region by MAX field hockey.
Senior Kiera Posey (forward), juniors Peyton Frost (forward) and Macy Morgan (midfielder), and sophomore Delaney Casey (midfielder/defender) are also key pieces for the Cardinals, who are replacing a bevy of talent from last year’s squad.
Three of the six lost to graduation are playing at the Division I level in college this season – Rowan Casey (Ohio University), Julie Conroy (Kent State) and Emmy Wellejus (Michigan State).
“Every year you have a dynamic to the team,” said coach Terri Simonetti Frost, who enters her 27th season. The Cardinals own nine state titles. “So, when you lose six starters, you’re trying to figure out how to replace those six starters with six new kids and trying to get them to work together.
Thomas Worthington senior Meredith Estepp, a University of Denver commit, is a key component of the Cardinals’ offensive attack. File photo
“We take it day by day. Each day it’s getting better and it’s getting better and it’s getting better. There’s still frustration, but when you lose three Division I field hockey players and you lose six starters – you’re going to be going through growing periods.”
Borghese is used to having Estepp with her on the front line on her right side. But being strong up the middle was important to Simonetti Frost, so Estepp was moved to center midfield – a spot occupied by Conroy last season and at one time, her sister Mollie, who helped Thomas to a state title as a freshman in 2017.
“I think she wanted someone like Meredith to be in that spot to be a leader, because that – on the field – that is your leader spot,” Borghese said. “And I think Meredith plays it amazingly. For example, Mollie Estepp, her sister, was in that position in high school. I mean, they are spitting images of each other, and I think they just do so well to complement each other. So, I think it’s a great opportunity that Meredith had, because I think it fits her amazingly.”
Meredith will play lacrosse at the University of Denver next fall, just like her sister Mollie, who just finished her senior season.
Thomas, which hosts Olentangy on Aug. 27, opened the season with a 9-0 victory over Dublin Jerome, is the first to win three consecutive state championships twice. The Cardinals also did it from 2015 to ’17.
Would not winning a state championship be a disappointment?
“I would be disappointed because I know we’re capable of doing it. So, that’s what would be disappointing,” Estepp said. “I would never disregard any of the other state titles because they’re all so special. I mean, it’s such an incredible thing to be a part of. So, losing one would never make it less (meaningful).”
Sophia Borghese (left), seen here with Thomas Worthington junior goaltender Mae Conroy, was named first-team West/Mid-West region by MAX field hockey last season. File photo