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Kingswood Field Hockey Standout Molly Sylvester Beresford ’49 Honored at Homecoming

9/23/2026

When the varsity field hockey team took the field under the lights for its Homecoming game last week, the evening offered a chance to celebrate Kingswood’s field hockey tradition with someone who helped shape it. After the seniors were recognized, Molly Sylvester Beresford ’49 was introduced as the evening’s Honorary Captain. Named to the All-Detroit field hockey team as a student, Molly was remembered by classmates as “a demon with the field hockey stick”—a description she earned with her fierce style of play.

Molly brought that same energy to other parts of Kingswood life. She was active in Church Cabinet and served as vice president of the K-Club. Her dedication to field hockey took her and her teammates to Northway Lodge in the Catskills, where they trained with Constance “Connie” Applebee, the pioneering educator widely credited with introducing the sport to the United States.

Before the game, Molly spoke with the current team. The players gathered around her, then welcomed her onto the field through a tunnel of raised arms. Wearing the commemorative jersey presented to her that evening, Molly joined this year’s captains for the ceremonial pass-back and stayed to hit balls with the team. Director of Athletics Keith Levinthal reflected, “I had no idea it would become one of my favorite Cranbrook moments. Watching Molly with our students was a great reminder of this place’s history and the generations of students and alumni who have represented Cranbrook Kingswood.” "

For today’s players, meeting Molly gave them a personal connection to Kingswood’s field hockey history. They could see in her the love of the game shared by generations of Kingswood players—and recognize that they, too, are part of that story.

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