The boys’ lacrosse team, as of May 2nd, is more than halfway through the season and holds a respectable .500 record at 6-6 with five games left in the season.
This season, a large influx of new players to the team and sport, have overcome numerous obstacles. Coach Jonathan Copithorne believes that it is a “big deal” to see new kids showing up “enthusiastic and ready to play. However, Copthorne emphasized the significance of bringing in another formidable set of players for the next season. He described lacrosse as a “demanding” sport that requires a lot of player substitution therefore calling for a large roster. Copithorne also highlighted the importance of newer players learning how crucial “practice outside of practice” is in improving skill in games.
The captain and leading goal scorer on the team is senior attack Chad Robertson who is in the final year of his historic high school career at Malden High. He stated that the team needs to work on the little fundamental things to see more improvement, just “cleaning up the messes” as he described.
Lacrosse appears to be a sport where kids switch to it from other sports or simply pick it up as a brand new sport every year. Senior attack Saul Kruckenberg, who is in his second season of playing lacrosse after transitioning from baseball, is “pleased” with his improvements yet is “not satisfied and still hungry” to get better each day.
With lacrosse being an extremely complex and grueling sport to pick up physically and mentally, a good coach to guide the team is crucial to retain players and have success on the field. Kruckenberg noted that the coaches “have continued to be wonderful and, despite being busy people, they take time out of their day to help us.”
First-year players come as freshmen or sometimes seniors simply looking for some fun in their last year of high school. First-year playing senior, attack Eric Vieira has picked up a lot of the sport by “watching more experienced guys play.” Vieira pointed out that “having to play catchup with the others” is very challenging but something he has been up for this season. Vierra also claimed that “Coach Copithorne and [Assistant] Coach Fitzgerald have created a great environment.”
Senior midfielder Jacky Summers, who has excelled this year winning faceoffs for the team, notes that “having newer players, we find mental mistakes coming up sometimes.” He also remarked that it is “important to make a community” because that is how “the team builds chemistry.”
Every team needs its leaders, and the captains of this team, Robertson and Colby Parker, are both seniors who have played Lacrosse for much of their lives. Summers believes the captains have done a great job “uniting the team and working with coaches” because “affirmation and encouragement” are often needed by newer players. Copithorne noted that “Chad [Robertson] is like a general on offense and Colby [Parker] has done everything asked of him.”
Every team has a plan for the future, and Copithorne said that “this year we’ve put an emphasis on the fundamentals” due to the newer players, and next year they can begin implementing more strategy.
Junior Ben Rosa, who has done well in the net this year, plans on closing out the season by “staying calm and really working on positioning” in the net. The team looks to close out the season strong and have the bittersweet moments of waving goodbye to the seniors and shifting focus on developing next year’s team.
For anyone looking to join the lacrosse team for next season, Vieira offered some advice, saying, “Starting a new sport can be nerve-wracking, but wanting to work and learning from experienced players and coaches make it so fun.”
