º£½ÇÉçÇø

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Enjoy the following insights from my interview with Championship coach Samantha Adey.

A lot of pressure to return to the state championship as last year’s winner, how did you and the team manage that pressure?

Samantha Adey: We talk a lot about just focusing on each game as they come – preparing for one game at a time and looking to get better every practice.  We didn’t talk really at all about the State Championship during the season, each day we talked about what we needed to focus on that day at practice to prepare for the upcoming game or we would reflect on our previous game and talk about what we needed to do to improve.  We would talk about measurable goals – what can I try to do in this next game that I can measure if I have achieved it or not? As a player, I can’t control if we win or lose, but I can control my effort, I can control my hustle.  Also, every player is at a different point in their lacrosse journey, so one player’s goal might be very different from another’s, but if each player can just focus on what they can do to better themselves – that will help the team.

What was one of the season’s highlights?

Adey: A highlight was definitely traveling to Chicago and having a really competitive game against New Trier, a perennial Midwestern powerhouse.  We went up 2-0 early and kept the game within 1-2 goals the entire time.  We ended up losing 12-11 and it was our only loss this season, but it was our best game all season and we were so proud of our play.  After that game we were ranked by USA Lacrosse/Nike as the #7 team in the Midwest and have since climbed to the #6 spot.  That was a huge accomplishment for our program – no other team in Wisconsin is in the Top 10.

What makes this team a championship team?

Adey: First, we have a lot of really talented players on this team that have worked a long time to hone their skills outside of practice – they hit the wall ball wall to get better stick work and they spend extra hours outside of practice shooting and training trying to get better.  Second, I have an immensely dedicated coaching staff that believes in empowering strong female athletes – they challenge our players and work with them every day answering questions, showing them better ways to execute skills, helping them to build resilience, and being there to support them when the players need it. Third, all 22 players really had the drive and desire to win this year – they wanted this championship and they worked hard and had the grit to make it happen.

Are there seniors going on to play Lacrosse in college?

Adey: Yes, we have two seniors committed to play in college: Molly Janssen is committed to play DI lacrosse at Xavier University and Brooke Robinson is committed to play DII lacrosse at University of Tampa.

Is there a player or players that exemplified outstanding leadership? How did they do this?

Adey: We had 11 Seniors this year who each exemplify leadership in their own ways.  Some are more extroverted while others are more introverted leaders.  Our three captains Molly Janssen, Brooke Robinson, and Amara Thohan did a wonderful job leading the whole program throughout the season.  Others like Clara Engman, Grace Tuttle, Abby Sisson and Dara Omoloja lead by example on the field.

Thoughts for next year?

Adey: After 14 years at the helm of this program, I started the program back in 2009, I will be leaving as I am moving to Minneapolis with my family, but I am confident that the team will be in good hands next year and the team has outstanding talent returning for the 2023 season.

A fan?

Follow your favorite teams

This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.