Some high school sports teams often struggle for support in certain areas, be it enrollment, coaches, or equal varsity and JV support.
Fortunately for the girls of Lake Orion High Schools Lacrosse teams, running the team is a family affair.
For the fifth consecutive year, the Booth family is running the girls lacrosse teams in Lake Orion. This year, the coaching staff consists of Bill and daughter Chealsey (a 2009 graduate of LOHS) for varsity and daughter Ronnie (2011 LOHS graduate) and Teanna Douglas coaching JV. The team is young, with 10 graduating players, nine of them starters. Thankfully, the family element has made bringing in JV players a thing of ease.
‘When we started out we coached both the varsity and JV teams, so it’s always been kind of one big team,? said Bill. ‘We practice on the field at the same time and we continue to keep teaching them the same things.
‘We only have six seniors out of 21 kids with one sophomore and the rest juniors. We graduated 10 players, nine of which were starters, so having the ease in transition is a good thing.?
Bill continued, adding he felt confident with the players ability. When the program started, they only managed to win one game, but as years have gone by, the program has grown progressively better. The second year the team won five games, while in 2010 and 2011 the girls lacrosse team went 9-7-2 and 9-7-1 respectively.
Bill hopes that trend will continue.
‘I feel good about these players,? said Bill. ‘The kids have more versatility this year, unlike previous years when some had to be pigeon holed into rolls. We really developed the JV team and they’re in better condition than ever thanks to my wife Debbie (former co-coach of varsity and personal trainer) who worked with the girls on a conditioning program.
?24 of our players even played in the off season in an indoor league at All American Lacrosse. They did more in the off season this year than they ever did before. They all worked harder to get better and really get this season off on the right foot.?
That progress showed on March 21, when, in a game against Grosse Point North, a team they have never come within 10 points of beating, the Dragons managed to come back from an 8-2 first half to finish at a close loss of 10-8. Bill said he was proud for the gain and that the team didn’t give up even after the early Grosse Point lead.
As far as individual players, Bill said senior varisty captains Mallory DeMott and Kaileen Tweedy are expected to lead the team on offense and defense. The team possesses an experienced junior goalie and Bill expects ‘big things? from juniors Rachel Cech and Emily Hendrix, who he said were good all-around players.
The next game will be on Thursday, March 29 at LOHS. Call (248) 693 – 5420 for more information.