LACROSSE FILLS COACHING POSITIONS

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LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD

Two additions are added to the girls lacrosse coaching staff this season

by Violet Newton violetannenewton@gmail.com

Before the beginning of this year’s girl’s lacrosse season, not one but two coaching positions were opened. Although players worried about a lack of coaches, the positions were quickly filled. Both coach Shelby Pritt and coach Barbara Hill are new to the FHN community and are taking over for coaches Ashley Van Camp and Mandy Xa due to an overlap in the high school lacrosse season and the college lacrosse season. Along with the two new coaches, Rowan Pugh will be returning as the conditioning coach for the team.

“Barb coaches and works in our district already so we knew of her, but she really is trying to get her foot in the door to North programs,” Pugh said. “She really likes the diversity in our school and our programs and has been looking for at least the last year to try to come over to the north side. And Shelby is a very talented player and is passionate about lacrosse.”

Hill is a veteran coach and has most recently coached the FHHS girl’s volleyball team, but she did not have prior experience with girl’s lacrosse. Hill decided she wanted to begin coaching lacrosse to help out Pugh and Pritt in order for the girls to have the best season possible. Pritt has played lacrosse with a team but has not coached a team before. Hill was chosen for the position for her expertise in training and her experience coaching while Pritt was selected as a coach due to her previous training as a high school lacrosse player.

“I hope to make the program larger and more well known at the school and district so it will become a bigger sport and get other people interested,” Hill said.

The coaches all hope to broaden the girl’s lacrosse program and improve it overall, all three coaches will be focusing on a different type of training in order to give the girls a wide range of skills. Pugh and Hill will mainly focus on conditioning and strength training with the girls, while Pritt will help the girls with game play, technique and stick handling.

“This is just a brand new year, we really love the kids and want to make this the best season for them we possibly can,” Pugh said. “And at the end of the day, we want to walk out of games with good people on our roster and have a super fun time.”

As Ian McDermott enters his final year playing varsity golf at FHN, he wants to make his mark. This is his fourth year playing on the team and he is dedicated to going to state again this year. Last year he placed 72nd out of 81, shooting 87 his first and second rounds. He has been working hard during the off-season to perfect his swing and his entire game. He is dedicated to being good at what he does and wants to do the best he can for himself and his team.

“I feel that state is very achievable for me this year and I’ve been working very hard to improve my game,” McDermott said.

Many things have changed for McDermott since last year, such as new coaching and a realization that this is his last year playing. Having a coaching change during senior year can be hard because of the bonds and relationships that he had made during his past three years. Now having history teacher Matt Havermale as the new coach, McDermott will learn to make a new bond. This bond will hopefully help McDermott be able to make it to state again this year. Havermale plans to help McDermott achieve his goals of state and placing higher than he did last year.

“I hope that I can help him just as much as I was able to help the girls team improve this past year,” Havermale said. “I know it is his senior year, but I want to be able to help in any way that I can.”