Tara Morris Piper was a four-year varsity starter on the Avon field hockey team, and one of the few still known by name today. A highly skilled player with tremendous speed, she earned All-Conference and All-State honors her junior and senior years and was nominated for All-American her senior year. A “standout” player in every way, according to her coach, Terri Ziemnicki, Tara really stood out when, on top of the normal challenges of juggling schoolwork, athletics, and teenaged life, she faced a diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease, the summer before her senior year.

Tara persevered during this time, navigating her illness with strength and positivity, inspiring her teammates and the community in the process. Although her doctors warned she’d be too weak from chemo and radiation treatments to play, Tara never missed a beat; she said it was field hockey that kept her going. In fact, it was she who kept her team going: Everyone that year played for Tara. Now, 30+ years later, her achievements are honored with the Tara Morris Inspiration Award which is awarded annually to a senior field hockey player who demonstrates dedication and perseverance. Her legacy continues to inspire.

After field hockey season, Tara maintained her speed and fitness on the track team where she participated in the 4x100 relay, 100- and 200-meter races, and long jump. She earned All-Conference honors as a 4x100 runner her senior year. After graduating from AHS, Tara continued her athletic career at the University of Connecticut where she played field hockey for the Huskies. Her team was Big East Conference champions in 1992, and Tara earned All-Conference and AllAmerican honors her junior and senior years. Tara was a Big East Player of the Week during her senior season and was inducted into the CT Field Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.

Tara received her Psychology degree from UConn in 1996 and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Sports Marketing there, as well. She put her passion for sports to work after business school, first at the United States Olympic Committee and, since then, at top sports and entertainment agencies such as Octagon and IMG, and in both Fortune 500 and start-up enterprises. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband Alex and two daughters, Zoe and Nora.