Mary Beth Barham, a distinguished American field hockey player born in Fairfax, Virginia, emerged as a sports prodigy, showcasing exceptional athletic prowess from her formative years. At W.T. Woodson High School, she not only excelled in field hockey but also demonstrated her skills on the soccer field. Her leadership skills and determination led the school team to consecutive victories, clinching the Liberty District Champions title in 2006, 2007, and 2008, along with the Northern Region Champions title in 2007. Mary Beth’s stellar performance earned her the title of Team MVP in 2008, coupled with second team All-Virginia State and first team All-Northern Region accolades.
Earning a well-deserved spot at Yale, one of the nation’s premier universities, Mary Beth continued to leave an indelible mark on the field hockey scene. In 2010, she was honored with the Yale field hockey Coach’s Award and later captained the Mid-Atlantic team in the Junior National Championships. Mary Beth’s excellence continued throughout her collegiate career, culminating in first team All-Ivy League recognition in her senior year. Her remarkable achievements, coupled with the Yale field hockey team’s success, set a school record with 20 Ivy League victories in four years. Recognized as Yale’s Player of the Year and a multiple-time Coach’s Award recipient, Mary Beth also ranked second on the team in goals scored.
Post-college, Mary Beth’s commitment to the sport persisted as she joined the US Women’s National Indoor Team in 2015. Simultaneously, she returned to Yale as an assistant coach, swiftly advancing to the position of recruiting coordinator. Her international success continued with a gold medal at the International Rohrmax Cup in Austria. The pinnacle of Mary Beth’s career came in 2017 when she made the US National Team and secured another gold medal at the Indoor Pan American Cup in Guyana, solidifying her status as a celebrated figure in American field hockey.
