Life is Grand

BY PAT JAMES PHOTOS BY THE SHELTON FAMILY

Being a grandmother suits field hockey head coach Karen Shelton

From leading her North Carolina field hockey team to back-to-back undefeated seasons in 2018 and 2019 to becoming the all-time winningest coach in NCAA field hockey history in November, Karen Shelton has made many memories over the last three years.

The most memorable, however, didn’t come in a game. It didn’t even come on the pitch. It came in the spring of 2019, in a hospital room.

It was then and there that Shelton’s son, William, and his wife, Julia, welcomed their daughter, Poppy, and Shelton officially became a grandmother. Two years later, that’s a title that Shelton – known to Poppy as “Coco” – remains extremely grateful for. “We couldn’t be happier and are just thrilled,” Shelton said. “And it’s just so fun. It’s a different phase in our lives. It’s been a great joy.” Although coaching a national “ “WE COULDN’T BE HAPPIER AND ARE JUST THRILLED. AND IT’S JUST championship program while still taking SO FUN. IT’S A DIFFERENT PHASE the time to enjoy being a grandmother might sound difficult, Shelton said it’s IN OUR LIVES. IT’S BEEN A been “kind of a simple balance.” That’s GREAT JOY.” been even more the case since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in March 2020. Because William, Julia and Poppy live in Chapel Hill – and are also considered a part of the field hockey team’s bubble – Shelton said she and husband Willie Scroggs, the former UNC men’s lacrosse coach and associate athletic director, see Poppy at least once a week.

Shelton certainly understands how fortunate they are to do that.

“It’s really nice that we have regular contact,” she said, “especially compared to a lot of grandparents who haven’t been able to see their grandchildren and have been isolated. We’ve been very lucky to have regular testing and such strict protocols that we could see each other.”

Generally, Shelton said they’ll bring over dinner and might spend some time reading a book with Poppy or watching a TV show with her. They also enjoy playing with her in the backyard. As much as anything, Shelton said they love taking her on walks.

“It’s like you have the fun, the lovey stuff and everybody is happy,” Shelton said, “and then when it’s time to change the diaper or she starts getting fussy, you say, ‘See you later.’ We’ve changed a few diapers and we’ve babysat a little bit.

“Julia’s mom has a lot more experience. She’s got six other grandchildren, so she’s old hat

at this. We’re kind of new. But it’s been such a delight.”

Not just for Shelton, but for her team, too.

Poppy has been a regular at UNC games the last two years. She even attended the Tar Heels’ win over Princeton in the 2019 national championship game in Winston-Salem when she was only a few months old, as well as the 2018 NCAA championship game in Louisville, Kentucky, when Julia was pregnant with her. On top of that, Poppy occasionally stops by practice, specifically on the family’s Sunday walks around campus.

Shelton’s players love when Poppy visits and ask about her frequently. After one game last fall, Shelton said Poppy ran onto the field toward her and her players cheered Poppy on while forming a tunnel with their field hockey sticks.

“As soon as she got close, she turned around and went the other way because she got a little nervous, she got scared,” Shelton said. “But that was fun. I think she enjoyed it, too. She loves being at the games. The whole exciting atmosphere, I think she likes it.”

Only time will tell if she likes it enough to want to be a part of it.

Poppy already has a field hockey stick, because of course she does. She also has a soccer goal and T-ball set that Shelton got her. Although Poppy is still a little too young to understand the concept of hitting a ball, Shelton also said “she’s pretty girly right now.”

“I was talking to my team (recently) about Poppy and how of course she’s the best dressed kid and always looks great. …” Shelton said. “She’s a bit girly right now, but my team said, ‘Oh, don’t worry, because I was really girly early on and became very athletic.’ So there’s still hope for little Poppy.”

Soon, little Poppy will be a big sister. William and Julia are expecting another baby – a boy – in July, and Shelton is already looking forward to making more memories as a family.

Before then, though, she hopes to make another with her 2020-21 team.

After winning the 2020 ACC Championship in November at Karen Shelton Stadium, UNC will look to win its third straight national title when it hosts the rescheduled 2020 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championship on May 9. That also happens to be Mother’s Day. And while Shelton knows as well as anyone that there’s no certainty that the Tar Heels will win that game – or that they’ll even play in it – she can only imagine how special that would be.

“I don’t like to jinx us by planning too much, but obviously, it would be a great thrill if that were to happen,” she said. “We’ll do everything in our power to try and make that happen. And for all the moms of the kids on the team, what a great gift that would be.”

For the grandmothers, too.

[WINNING THE CHAMPIONSHIP ON MOTHER’S DAY] WOULD BE A GREAT THRILL IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN. WE’LL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO TRY AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND FOR ALL THE MOMS OF THE KIDS ON THE TEAM, WHAT A GREAT GIFT THAT WOULD BE.”