Marysville’s girls lacrosse team is pictured from left, front row, Addie Bartlett, Sydney Fetherolf, Yeseo Yoon, Tori Wheeler, Audrey Watson, Kennedy Heard and Kennedy Yurkovich; second row, Kennedy Shaffer, Aly Swinehart, Sophia Smegal, Mackenzie Cole, Abbi McLaughlin, Maggie Zweizig and McKenna Boger; third row, manager Natalie Bartlett, Nicolette McCracken, Kendra Kern, Clarissa Hamilton, Aubrey Montgomery, Kat Schoenleb, Faythe Willis and assistant coach Brandi Holt; fourth row, Kayla Oboczky, Abby Thompson, Andrea Mendez Olarte, Sofia Marquez, Alisa Hickok, Ava Backus, Addy Ross and Riley Zortman; fifth row, head coach Whitney Brofford-Swope, Paisley Smith, Emmalee Pendell, Aayva Arnold, Sara McNamara, Reagan Cooke, Samantha Doutt, Kenzi Paugh, Lily Strouse and assistant coach Ryan Swart.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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Marysville’s girls lacrosse program seeks to lift the standard with a new head coach at the helm this season.
Whitney Brofford took the title as the new coach in August and was eager to get the ball rolling in preparation for the 2024 spring season. The time has now come for her Lady Monarchs to take the field.
Last season, Marysville produced a 7-13 overall record while going winless (0-6) in conference matchups. Brofford hopes to build improvement this season while also keeping her team’s spirits high while on the field.
“I am super excited about this season,” Brofford said. “It is a big change [for me] from coaching at the middle school level having so much more girls.”
The first-year head coach complimented the team’s talents heading into the start of the season. Along with the knowledge of the game, players were quick to pick up on the style Wofford wants to see on the field.
Brofford said some of the team got together during the winter months and competed in box (indoor) lacrosse just to get familiar with one another.
“We played a game every night,” she noted, adding the team competed for a six-week stretch. “For the most part, I coached 90% of these girls in middle school, so they already knew what they were coming into.”
When it comes to the regular season, the Monarchs will have a tough schedule facing off against opponents in the Ohio Capital Conference. At the end of the day, Wofford wants her girls to showcase their best effort.
“Coming into my first season coaching, I’d love to have a winning season, but that wasn’t my main goal,” she said. “It is making sure the girls have the knowledge of lacrosse, have a great season and actually come out of it better human beings.”
With many of same returning players, Brofford wants everyone to showcase their skill level before committing to who will be starting at each position.
She said players to watch out for this season include Kat Schoenleb, Clarissa Hamilton and McKenna Boger.
“I would like us to be a force to be reckoned with,” Wofford said.
For senior captains like Abbi McLaughlin, the chance to have one last ride will be a joyous occasion.
“I am definitely excited,” she said, adding how Wofford has brought new energy to the program. “So far it’s been more team-like, which I appreciate.”
McLaughlin noted the improvements made in on-field communication. The team has also improved its communication off the field, which she pointed as a reason the team is performing better at practice.
“As we bond more as a team, we feel more comfortable talking to others on the field,” she said.
McLaughlin said the team’s goal is to have a 40% or higher win rate despite being in a tough conference.
The team also wants to score a minimum of five goals per game.