For many Americans, field hockey is still a bit of a mystery. Its play can seem confusing and its terminology utterly foreign. Sixteen-yard hit? Bully? Clearing? Marking? Penalty corners? For a nation raised on baseball, basketball and football — and only coming to terms with soccer half a century or more after the rest of the world embraced it — field hockey and its rules can seem about as foreign as those of rounders or cricket.

But Suffolk seems to get it, and the success the city’s high schools have had on the … pitch? field? court? … has given many of Suffolk’s high school players a chance to go on to play and excel at the college level. That success was borne out this week with the announcement of all-conference selections in the Ironclad Conference, which includes all three of Suffolk’s public high schools.

Suffolk took the top honors in three of the most important categories, and the schools, the coaches, the players and their parents all have plenty of reasons to raise their … sticks? clubs? bats? … high in celebration.

Nansemond River High School’s squad led all teams in the conference with six first-team all-conference selections and 13 player selections total, and the Lady Warriors’ Ali Mowry was named Coach of the Year.

King’s Fork High School senior midfielder Rachel Gist was recognized as the Ironclad Conference field hockey Player of the Year, headlining her team’s four first-team selections and eight total selections.

Lakeland High School had four first team selections and nine total selections.

Congratulations to all the young ladies and their coaches for the recognition of their hard work and dedication to a sport about which much of the country remains in the dark. Their excellence will help shine a light on this demanding and fast-moving athletic pursuit.