Casa girls lacrosse coming of age

If you had asked anyone on the Casa Grande High School girls lacrosse team if there was enough interest to field a junior varsity as well as varsity team for the 2016 season, the answer would have been a reluctant, but resounding “no.”

Entering their second year playing an official high school sport, the Casa lacrosse girls knew they were falling short in terms of players, support and funding. The shift from club to high school had been a long time coming for many, but it also meant the girls would potentially be giving up their undefeated streak in the cross-town rivalry, as well as their shot at state championships, in order to build a high school team.

For veteran players, the club teams that they had grown familiar with were being split between Casa and Petaluma High School. Whether or not the sport survived would depend on the support and enthusiasm of its players. There would be new coaches, new rules, and more than half a team’s worth of new players to train. And as Casa’s first girls lacrosse team tried to establish itself as competition for other schools, its on-field dynamic suffered from conflict between veteran and beginning players. Junior Lexie Andrade, who played lacrosse for nine years prior to joining the high school team, was co-captain of the team last year and negotiated the struggle between players.

“It really lessened our team spirit and our ability to cooperate. We didn’t mesh well. Girls were getting frustrated that we couldn’t progress, because other girls couldn’t follow or keep up,” said Andrade.

The boys team was doing well by comparison. The players had come into the high school sponsorship with a few former club coaches willing to lead the transition, a substantial number of players from every grade level, and a reputation for being one of the best teams in the league. Without the same components, the girls team was struggling to meet this standard.

So when the new season arrived, it was questionable as to the amount of interest girls had in continuing the sport. Girls who had played for at least a year were now returning as veterans, and some incoming freshmen who had played for the club team Rivercats had shown interest - but would it be enough?

“It was a challenge getting girls to realize that there is girls lacrosse, that there’s not just a boys team,” said Andrade, who returned as a mid-field player and a co-captain of the varsity team.

So the girls went to work. Rather than wait for an official meeting, Andrade and her teammates sought out other girls and convinced them to join the team. It was by their efforts that the number of tryouts swelled to more than 30 - still a small group by most team comparisons, but it almost double the number of players from the previous year.

“We were originally going to have to make semi-cuts from the varsity team, and we were originally going to have a play team and a practice team, making cuts without actually cutting people. Then there was a last-minute decision to make it so that we had a JV team and a varsity team, which was fantastic. I think that’s what all the girls were really gunning for,” said Andrade.

Colleen Graul offered to be head coach and manage both teams. Three former club players and Casa Grande alumni also stepped up to the plate. Abbie Cameron took over the junior varsity team, while Melina Essig and Adrienne Welcker co-coached the varsity team. It was an opportunity to give back and support the team that had carried them through their own high school athletic careers.

“I have been trying to get back into the lacrosse community for a couple years now, but I had no success until this season. Coco (Colleen) was in need of help, and it was time for this team to get coaches who wanted to work hard and grow with this team,” said Essig.

It’s evident to the players as well that this year has been different.

“The girls are devoted, and we have great coaches, and this year we’re getting to really work on what we want. You see it on the lacrosse field, and you see how much time and work each individual player has put into this. We have a long way to go, but I think we’ve come a long way as well,” said Andrade.

Junior Caitlin Gurtner, who played defense for the club team before the transition, also commented on the improved dynamic.

“(This year) our defense works so well together. We really started to understand each other as a group, and then as a team,” said Gurtner.

The varsity team ended its season last week in a heated battle with Rancho Cotate. The tenacity and determination that these girls brought to their season paid off. The team ended 5-6 in the league, a marked improvement from their 2-9 record in 2015. The JV team ended its season with a tie against Windsor last week.

To the girls who had played on the team when it was still a club sport, growing into two teams was a huge step in the right direction. With the continued dedication of their players and volunteer coaches, Casa will have a strong and competitive girls team for many years to come.