For years, the girls lacrosse program has struggled to maintain a coach for more than a single season.
To put that into perspective, the Class of 2012 was exposed to a different head coach for each of their four lacrosse seasons played as a Seahawk.
Last year, the lengthy streak was broken when varsity coach Lindsey Linden stayed for two seasons.
However, he stepped down from the position before beginning a third year.
It was a difficult process to find someone to fill the open position, yet Kelly Bausher was eventually announced the new varsity head coach before winter break began.
In regards to the junior varsity coaching position, there have been two different coaches within the past two seasons. However, the assistant JV coach from last season, Sashah Ramirez, will now become the head JV coach, replacing Allison Berger.
Things were finally looking up for both the JV and varsity girls lacrosse team until a recent unexpected announcement threw a curveball at the program. Bausher had stepped down from the position due to personal reasons just a week before spring tryouts were set to take place.
“I almost saw it coming honestly because there was no way that she could have been our coach,” junior Leah Duffy said. “With her full-time job, the toddler, and the newborn all to take care of, I figured that it would take too much time to coach a lacrosse team. She sounded really enthusiastic over her emails to us, but I don’t think that she realized the commitment that came with coaching.”
The girls lacrosse team is now in panic mode in search of a new and qualified coach in time for the closely approaching tryouts.
“I am worried about how this season is going to go,” sophomore Caroline Beaulac said. “I don’t really know what happens if we don’t have a coach in time for tryouts. Hopefully we will. This just means that we have to step up and condition ourselves and make sure we are ready and prepared for the season.”
Tryouts are still set to take place on Feb. 24-Feb. 28 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Langston Hughes field. Ramirez will run tryouts along with other volunteer assistants if a new coach is not hired in time.
“It doesn’t make me nervous,” Ramirez said. “It’s just more than what I expected coming into the new season. For me what’s important is to create a sense of camaraderie and unity between the girls. Not just within each team but as an entire program itself since we all have to go through this together.
“It is important to create a  foundation of teamwork but also making sure to maintain morale. I knew as soon as the email came out about the coach quitting, hearts dropped. I just want to make sure that we are all staying positive and hopeful. It is a rough way to start but sometimes starting out rough means that you can end up coming out shining like diamonds.”
Another problem that the program may face this year is the limited number of girls trying out for the JV and varsity teams. Last year, there were just enough girls to form two teams.
As a result, the JV team was comprised of mainly new players instead of veteran players.
“I honestly do not think that it is going to be a problem,” Ramirez said. “A lot of girls showed up for the green day practices. Even just with this week, many girls have showed up for conditioning. I think that we will be fine this year as it is not our biggest concern at this time.”