I became a coach because I love the game and enjoy growing it, allowing me to stay involved in a sport I loved playing. I started playing lacrosse in 7th grade thanks to my dad and brother, continuing through high school at Beaumont and with Ohio Premier club. At Saint Louis University, I played club lacrosse and coached a club team in STL. Coaching at NEOLAX lets me help grow the game in the Cleveland area, especially for girls, where opportunities were once limited. NEOLAX’s G.R.I.T. mentality emphasizes teamwork, resilience, and growth. In my training sessions, I focus on foundational skills like ground balls, stick skills, throwing, passing, catching, and shooting. A memorable moment for me is seeing girls apply what we worked on in practice during a game. My mantra is, “First off, have fun! And work hard.” My advice is to practice on their own time, especially with wall ball and shooting. Mental toughness and confidence are crucial, so I push my players to hustle and practice at game speed. I want every student to understand that their effort determines their results—perfect practice makes perfect. What I love most about coaching for NEOLAX is working with the 7/8 girls. It’s a fun team, and I look forward to every practice!