Windsor lacrosse players get ahead of the game

Windsor Lacrosse players get ahead of the game

By Gabe Kawamura

11/20/2014

Windsor High School lacrosse players are getting ready for the official spring season by practicing and training to get better in preparation for the upcoming season. Many athletes are practicing hard right now so that the team can have a good season.

The players are getting ready with the starting date of February 23 coming right around the corner. After school, some lacrosse players will be hitting the wall and passing with each other. Max Hansen, a Junior on the Varsity team is seen practicing and shooting on the goal after school.

Brady Bowman, a Junior at WHS said that he sees a lot of “hard workers hitting the wall,” and sometimes sees Hansen and Hunter Hopp, a starter for WHS lacrosse, practicing.

Coach John Belleau, the head coach of the team has just started a regular practice schedule. Every Wednesday after school Coach Belleau and the team will be out on the field practicing as if it were the regular season. During practice, Coach Belleau does walkthroughs with the team, and the players work hard in preparation for every lacrosse game. There’s also a possibility that the team will start to use the weight room to get in shape.

The preseason practices will benefit everyone on the team, the new players and the old. More than half of the expected players this season were out there at the first preseason practice.

Getting a lot of players is a big goal for Windsor lacrosse this year. If there are enough players on the team, a C-Team and a new paid coaching position will be made. This will be the third team in addition to the Varsity and JV teams.

“The rumor this year is a large group of freshmen,” Assistant principal and athletics director Mark Kanagy said. The addition of these new players might be enough to create the C-Team. Mr. Kanagy added that there were “close to 50 - 55 kids out last year.”

KC Scott, a Junior on the team and lacrosse player for 7 years says that there’s a “chance we could get 15 - 20 plus” new players this upcoming season.

A big way that the team has gotten new players was by getting the word out to students at Windsor High School. Bowman talks about his friend Petey Maxwell, a starting defenseman, “Petey always tries to get me to play, convincing me to make the switch to lacrosse,” said the track athlete, “I got Gabe to play lacrosse.” Gabe Kawamura is a Junior on the team who made the switch his freshman year.

To start playing lacrosse, a new player will need a few things. “Lacrosse, like some other sports, needs some personal equipment,” Mr. Kanagy says that cleats, a lacrosse stick, and also lacrosse gloves and pads are needed. The players can buy their own helmet or check out a helmet from the school. Coach Belleau will have gear for the new players.

The other goal is for the team to do well this season. In the past two seasons, Windsor lacrosse made it to the second round playoffs, but they plan to get farther this year. Their goal is to make it to the playoffs, win state, and make a statement for Windsor High School’s lacrosse team.

“Our offense and defense are good,” Scott said, “Getting it between defense and offense is where we struggle. The transition between the two is hard.”

“I guarantee there will be more spirit,” Bowman says about the student section this season. He says, “It’s going to be a good year for Windsor lacrosse.”