Girls lacrosse teams in michigan. Girls Lacrosse in Michigan: Teams, Players, and College Commitments

How does girls lacrosse in Michigan compare to other states. Which teams have dominated the state championships in recent years. Who are the top players to watch in Michigan girls lacrosse.

The Landscape of Girls Lacrosse in Michigan

Girls lacrosse has been growing rapidly in popularity across Michigan in recent years. As of 2023, there are 94 high school teams competing in the state, divided into two divisions based on school population. This robust participation demonstrates the sport’s increasing appeal and the dedication of young female athletes throughout Michigan.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) oversees girls lacrosse competitions, ensuring fair play and providing opportunities for talented players to showcase their skills. With the 2023 season kicking off on March 13th, excitement is building among players, coaches, and fans alike.

Division Structure

Michigan’s girls lacrosse teams are organized into two divisions:

• Division 1: Typically includes larger schools with higher student populations
• Division 2: Generally comprises smaller schools and emerging programs

This division structure helps create more balanced competition and gives teams from schools of various sizes the opportunity to compete for state titles.

Recent State Championship Dominance

In recent years, a few powerhouse programs have established themselves as the teams to beat in Michigan girls lacrosse. Their consistent success speaks to the quality of coaching, player development, and overall program strength.

Division 1 Dynasties

Rockford High School has been the team to beat in Division 1, winning an impressive eight of the last nine state championships. However, their reign was interrupted in 2022 when Brighton High School emerged victorious.

Brighton’s championship run was particularly notable, as they had been the runner-up to Rockford in each of the previous three seasons. Their persistence paid off in a thrilling overtime victory against Forest Hills Northern, with the final score of 12-11.

Division 2 Powerhouse

In Division 2, East Grand Rapids has established itself as the dominant force, claiming eight of the last ten state championships. Their most recent victory came in 2022, when they prevailed over Detroit Country Day in a nail-biting double overtime final.

Top Players and College Commitments

Michigan’s girls lacrosse scene is brimming with talent, as evidenced by the number of players committing to collegiate programs. For the classes of 2023 and 2024, there are 35 players who have made commitments to Division 1, 2, and 3 colleges.

Michigan’s Collegiate Pipeline

Of these committed players, ten have chosen to continue their lacrosse careers within the state of Michigan, demonstrating the strength of in-state programs. The breakdown of these commitments is as follows:

• University of Michigan: 1 player
• Eastern Michigan University: 2 players
• Davenport University: 2 players
• Kalamazoo College: 2 players
• Alma College: 1 player
• Hope College: 1 player
• Rochester University: 1 player

Division 1 Commitments: Players to Watch

Several standout players from Michigan have secured spots on Division 1 college rosters. These athletes represent the cream of the crop in Michigan girls lacrosse and are sure to make an impact at the next level.

Notable Division 1 Commits

• Emma Arico ’24 (Detroit Country Day) – Midfield, University of Michigan
• Mileena Cotter ’24 (Salem High School) – Midfield, Syracuse University
• Ella Lantigua ’23 (Cranbrook) – Attacker, University of New Hampshire
• Gabby Hendricks ’23 (Forest Hills Central High School) – Midfield, Jacksonville University
• Hadley Keating ’24 (Detroit Country Day School) – Attacker, University of Notre Dame
• Claire Marosi ’24 (Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School) – Midfield, Northwestern University
• Ava Perrone ’23 (Livonia Stevenson High School) – Midfield, University of Maryland

Rising Stars: Class of 2024

The class of 2024 is particularly strong, with several players already committed to top programs. These juniors will be key players to watch during the 2023 season and beyond.

2024 Standouts

• Payton Davis (IMG) – Midfield, Lindenwood University
• Erin Humphrey (Troy High School) – Defense, Eastern Michigan University
• Azaria LeJeune-Woloszyn (Churchill High School) – Defense, Marquette University
• Kylie Pastor (Haslett High School) – Goalie, Coastal Carolina University
• Maddie White (Spring Lake High School) – Midfield, East Carolina University

Division 2 and 3 Commitments

While Division 1 commitments often garner the most attention, many talented players from Michigan are set to compete at the Division 2 and 3 levels. These athletes will play crucial roles in their respective college programs.

Notable Division 2 Commits

• Bridget Cox ’23 (Okemos High School) – Goalie, Shippensburg University
• Aurora Jason ’23 (South Lyon High School) – Attacker/Midfield, Quincy University
• Ella Martin ’23 (Rochester High School) – Midfield, Lander University
• Kloey Merenuk ’23 (Hartland High School) – Midfield, University of Findlay
• Tori Morales ’23 (Hudsonville High School) – Defense, Ashland University

The Impact of Michigan’s Lacrosse Talent

The high number of college commitments across all divisions speaks to the quality of girls lacrosse in Michigan. These players are not only raising the profile of the sport within the state but are also contributing to the growth of women’s lacrosse on a national level.

Factors Contributing to Success

Several factors have contributed to the development of such strong talent in Michigan:

• Robust youth programs fostering early skill development
• High-quality coaching at both the club and high school levels
• Competitive high school leagues pushing players to excel
• Increased visibility and support for girls lacrosse
• Strong collegiate programs within the state creating aspirational targets for young players

As these committed players move on to their collegiate careers, they will serve as ambassadors for Michigan lacrosse, potentially inspiring the next generation of players in the state.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Girls Lacrosse in Michigan

With such a strong foundation of talent and increasing participation rates, the future of girls lacrosse in Michigan looks bright. As more players commit to college programs and return to the state to coach or support youth development, the cycle of success is likely to continue.

Potential Developments

In the coming years, we may see:

• More Michigan high schools adding lacrosse programs
• Increased competition for state championships as programs develop
• Higher numbers of college commitments, including more to top-tier Division 1 programs
• Greater national recognition for Michigan as a hotbed of lacrosse talent
• Expansion of youth programs to nurture talent from an earlier age

The dedication of players, coaches, and supporters of girls lacrosse in Michigan has created a thriving ecosystem for the sport. As these committed players move on to their collegiate careers, they will undoubtedly continue to make Michigan proud and inspire the next generation of lacrosse stars in the state.

From the dominant high school programs like Rockford and East Grand Rapids to the individual standouts earning Division 1 scholarships, Michigan’s girls lacrosse scene is a testament to the hard work and passion of young female athletes across the state. As the 2023 season unfolds, all eyes will be on these players and teams, eager to see who will rise to the top and etch their names in the annals of Michigan lacrosse history.

Players to Watch: Michigan Girls Lacrosse

The 2023 Girl’s Lacrosse season begins in Michigan on March 13th. Michigan has 94 teams split into two divisions based on the school’s population.

Rockford High School has won the last eight of the last nine Division 1 State Championships. Brighton High School broke the streak in 2022, defeating Forest Hills Northern in OT last year. Brighton had been the runner-up to Rockford in each of the previous three seasons.

Brighton senior Ella Boose with the goal in OT as the Bulldogs went on to beat Forest Hills Northern 12-11 for the Division 1 Girls Lacrosse State Title this afternoon. @brighton_lax_ #WatchHerRise X @DMC_Rehab pic.twitter.com/Ixsh4l0HT3

— State Champs! W (@StateChampsW) June 12, 2022

East Grand Rapids has won eight of the last ten Division 2 State Championships, including last year’s 2OT thriller against Detroit Country Day.

DIVISION 2 GIRLS LACROSSE FINAL RECAP: East Grand Rapids (@EGR_AD) vs. Detroit Country Day#StateChamps X @MHSAA pic.twitter.com/Pi2mq7aEa5

— STATE CHAMPS! Michigan (@statechampsmich) June 15, 2022

Michigan has 35 Division 1, 2, and 3 Commits in the classes of 2023 and 2024. Ten players will be staying in the state to compete at the collegiate level: Michigan (1), Eastern Michigan (2), Davenport (2), Kalamazoo (2), Alma (1), Hope (1), and Rochester (1).

Division 1 Commits

Emma Arico ’24
High School: Detroit Country Day
Position: Midfield
College: Michigan

Mileena Cotter ’24
High School: Salem High School
Position: Midfield
College: Syracuse

Payton Davis ’24
High School: IMG
Position: Midfield
College: Lindenwood

Ella Lantigua ’23
High School: Cranbrook
Position: Attacker
College: New Hampshire

Breyer Fenech ’23
High School: Haslett High School
Position: Midfielder
College: UMBC

Gabby Hendricks ’23
High School: Forest Hills Central High School
Position: Midfield
College: Jacksonville

Erin Humphrey ’24
High School: Troy High School
Position: Defense
College: Eastern Michigan

Hadley Keating ’24
High School: Detroit Country Day School
Position: Attacker
College: Notre Dame

Azaria LeJeune-Woloszyn ’24
High School: Churchill High School
Position: Defense
College: Marquette

Claire Marosi ’24
High School: Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School
Position: Midfield
College: Northwestern

Shannon Murphy ’23
High School: Forest Hills Central High School
Position: Attacker
College: Marquette

Isabelle Osborn ’23
High School: Rockford High School
Position: Attacker
College: South Florida

Kylie Pastor ’24
High School: Haslett High School
Position: Goalie
College: Coastal Carolina

Ava Perrone ’23
High School: Livonia Stevenson High School
Position: Midfield
College: Maryland

Leah Rings ’23
High School: Rockford High School
Position: Midfield
College: Eastern Michigan

Taylor Weston ’23
High School: Detroit Cass Tech
Position: Attacker/Midfielder
College: Delaware State

Maddie White ’24
High School: Spring Lake High School
Position: Midfield
College: East Carolina

Division 2 Commits

Bridget Cox ’23
High School: Okemos High School
Position: Goalie
College: Shippensburg

Aurora Jason ’23
High School: South Lyon High School
Position: Attacker/Midfield
College: Quincy

Shelby Lloyd ’23
High School: Mattawan High School
Position: Defense/Midfield
College: Quincy

Ella Martin ’23
High School: Rochester High School
Position: Midfield
College: Lander

Kloey Merenuk ’23
High School: Hartland High School
Position: Midfield
College: Findlay

Tori Morales ’23
High School: Hudsonville High School
Position: Defense
College: Ashland

Jade Remacle ’23
High School: Midland
Position: Attacker/Midfield
College: Davenport

Inessa Roberston ’23
High School: Grand Haven High School
Position: Defense
College: McKendree

Brianna Rodriguez ’23
High School: Rockford High School
Position: Midfield
College: Davenport

Sarah Rott ’24
High School: Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School
Position: Midfield
College: UMass Lowell

Lauren Walsh ’23
High School: Grand Rapids Northview High School
Position: Attacker
College: Tiffin

Division 3 Commits

Poppy Balkema ’23
High School: Grand Haven High School
Position: Goalie
College: Kalamazoo

Ava Gilardone ’23
High School: Hartland High School
Position: Midfield/Attacker
College: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Abigail Keith ’23
High School: Mattawan High School
Position: Midfielder
College: Alma

Julia Kozal ’23
High School: Forest Hills Northern-Eastern
Position: Defense
College: Kalamazoo

Liliana Tasich ’23
High School: Troy Athens High School
Position: Midfield
College: Rochester

Sophi Dorado ’23
High School: Salem High School
Position: Defense
College: Wells

Lauren Zaccagni ’23
High School: Brighton High School
Position: Attacker/Midfield
College: Hope

Meet the 2021 Michigan Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Association All-State Teams

Lucy Cavanaugh leads East Grand Rapids in assists. (Photo courtesy of Ellen Adams)

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The Michigan Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Association has honored the state’s top high school players.

Meet the Division 1 and 2 All-State teams below.

DIVISION 1 FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE

DIVISION 1 SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE

DIVISION 1 HONORABLE MENTION ALL-STATE

DIVISION 2 FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE

DIVISION 2 SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE

DIVISION 2 HONORABLE MENTION ALL-STATE

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“I can tell players something they will remember for a lifetime.” What is the point of John Harbaugh as a coach? – First & Goal

Fifty-seven-year-old John Harbaugh chats on Zoom with his twenty-three-year-old quarterback, Lamar Jackson.

Harbaugh is not a quarterback specialist, nor has he ever specialized in offense, but he is now discussing his offensive play with his quarterback. They go through the video and Harbaugh wants to know why Lamar drops back faster in one game than in another. The coach explains that Jackson should start throwing the ball on a regular basis, coming closer to the touchline. He talks about the need to pay more attention to the study of the defensive formations of opponents, and explains the general principles of defensive play.

Some quarterbacks don’t place much value on this kind of instruction from their coaches. The League is full of them.

Jackson is not inclined to trust everyone. He clearly distinguishes who is ready to share his fate with him, and who only uses for his own purposes.

And he trusts his head coach.

“He believed in me when I was a rookie—so much so that he made me the starting quarterback,” says Jackson. – I was entrusted with the task of bringing the team to the playoffs, despite the fact that I actually had no playing experience. And we made it to the playoffs. He believes in me and I believe in him. It’s simple.”

Harbaugh and Jackson talk almost every day. Jackson laughs heartily at Harbaugh’s jokes at team meetings. The coach hit it off with his young quarterback.

“It seems to me that the main secret of our good relationship with the coach is that we both want to win,” says Jackson. We both hate to lose and are ready to fight to the end. I think that’s one of the most important things in a coach-quarterback relationship. We don’t care about critics and haters. And when coach Harbaugh talks about something, you immediately feel his will to win and the desire to go to the end.

Anyone who remembers Harbaugh in his early days with the Ravens but doesn’t know what he’s like now can’t imagine that this coach and this quarterback could have had such a relationship.

But 12 seasons at the helm of the Baltimore Ravens did not go unnoticed.

Fifty-seven-year-old Harbaugh recalls how he joined the team in early 2008 and says that the first team meetings were like “a conversation between the blind and the deaf.”

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The Ravens players, who had already won a Super Bowl with Brian Billick, were rather skeptical about the appointment of the head coach of a man who became a famous special teams coach by the age of 45 and spent most of his career as an assistant with the Eagles. Many of the defense players lobbied for Rex Ryan, then the defensive coordinator, to be in charge. Harbaugh kept Rex in his post, which did not improve the situation.

Harbaugh thought it was time for his players to turn from ragamuffins into worthy representatives of the franchise. And he was going to discipline himself in the good old fashioned ways he had learned from watching his father, Jack Harbaugh, in Western Kentucky and Western Michigan, and Bo Schlembeckler, with whom his father worked, work.

Practice started at 1pm and the players were ordered to be on the pitch at 12.45pm. For training, everyone wears the same boots and breeches with a full set of shields. Each practice will be as contact as possible, and this will last the entire preseason. Tired? Hurt? Be patient, be quiet, keep working. All players had to come to the exit, at least in trousers and shirts. No jeans, sandals or sneakers.

Veterans like Ray Lewis and Willis McGahey who weren’t in special teams were exempt from special teams training under the old leadership. Under Harbaugh, they were first obliged to attend these classes, and later – to run into the players of the training squad on the return of the initial blow.

Harbo did not avoid sharp corners and awkward moments in dealing with the players. The wards did not want to give in either.

When Harbaugh removed McGahey from the starting lineup, he rebelled – he ignored the curfew before the away game, and before boarding the bus, defiantly walked out into the hotel lobby with two young ladies on his arm.

“Billick treated us like little kids,” McGahey recalls. Harbaugh comes in and tightens the nuts even tighter. He watches us at the base, at the hotel, on the plane, 24/7… Rules, rules, rules… It was so infuriating, to be honest!”

The team is boarding the buses before flying to Miami, Terrell Suggs and Antoine Barnes are standing in line, both in suits and ties, and both in white sneakers. Satisfied with themselves, they laugh. “Then I realized – here it is, the moment of truth,” recalls Harbaugh. – Am I upset? Not at all. I’m being tested and I can’t back down.”

Suggs: Hey coach, how are you?

Harbo: There are problems.

Suggs: You mean?

Harbo: You are wearing sneakers.

Suggs: But I don’t have any other shoes.

Harbo: Well, then you won’t get on the bus.

Suggs: What do you want to say? What are we not going to play?

Harbo: Not at all. You just can’t get on the bus. And you can’t fly with us. But you have to show up for the game. See you.

Landing completed. The buses leave for the plane, leaving Suggs and Barnes standing outside the airport building.

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Ravens security chief Darren Sanders called Harbaugh and asked what he should do. With the help of the State Police, Sanders drove Suggs and Barnes home to change and back to the airport in record time.

The team has already boarded the plane and the steward is preparing to close the door. Suggs and Barnes appear on the runway, in suits and shoes, and rush to the airstairs.

They are greeted with loud shouts and applause. But the precedent has been set.

Harbaugh recalls that even after he led the team to the playoffs in 2011, the team remained dissatisfied.

Former NFL coach Dick Vermeil, one of Harbaugh’s mentors, told him that there will always be disgruntled people on the team. There will always be a “circle of oppositionists” in the locker room. But it took Harbo a very long time to understand and accept this. “I took it as something personal,” says Harbaugh. “I needed to know there were no rebels on my ship. I couldn’t even put up with one classic black sheep.

That summer, the coach received help from Lewis, the dressing room leader. Lewis repeated Harbaugh’s words about not taking everything to heart. Because a coach who is easily pissed off is unlikely to have much authority among the players. The Ravens players recognize Harbaugh as a leader and are ready to follow him.

“That was the first time I heard from him: ‘You are our coach, you are in charge here, we trust you,’” says Harbaugh. “It was a kind of revelation for me. And I realized that it was time for me to change.”

That season, Harbaugh formed a kind of “council of elders” from reputable players, at which he discussed intra-team problems with them. “At first I didn’t think that something worthwhile would come of it. But over time, the guys got used to coming into the office, putting their feet up on the table and listening to me: ‘This is the problem we have, these are the ways I see its solution. What do you guys think about this? ‘Then I could just sit and listen as they discuss the problematic issue and find ways to solve it. And it wasn’t easy for them: Ray wants this, Ed (Reed) wants this, and Joe (Flacco) thinks like this. In the locker room, everything is seen much easier: Harbaugh is an idiot. He came up with some kind of game again.

Harbaugh is constantly taking notes: during meetings of the “council of elders”, during training and team meetings. Takes notes on relationships with players, whether they are good or bad. He writes down his thoughts about the playbook and motivational techniques, conversations with Vermeil, about the books he read and, separately, about studying the Bible, outlines brainstorming sessions in which his father and brother Jim, Michigan’s head coach, take part.

He takes notes on his phone or scribbles by hand in a notebook, and then enters it all into a computer, catalogs and organizes by date and subject.

Family members aside, hardly anyone knows Harbaugh better than Jerry Rosburg, who worked as a Baltimore special teams coach until 2019. They became friends while sharing a dorm room during a summer training camp at the University of Michigan in 1985, where they both served as junior assistants. They later worked together at the University of Cincinnati.

“One of the secrets to John’s rapid rise through the ranks is that he never stops looking for new ways and ways to get better. He writes down something all the time, makes notes, and then analyzes them and seeks to benefit from it. He is one of those who never rests on their laurels,” says Rosburg.

Harbo was never afraid that one of the assistants would sit him in the head coach’s chair. Four of his assistants, starting with Ryan, became head coaches in the NFL. Eight former head coaches in different years became his assistants. “These people went through fire, water and copper pipes,” he says. “I have a lot to learn from them. That’s the only thing that matters.”

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As Harbaugh watches his daughter Alison take her first steps in the sport, he learns from her coaches. On his desk is a pack of wooden popsicle sticks. He picked up this idea from his daughter’s softball coach, who used sticks to explain the ancient parable that we can be easily broken alone, but together we can overcome any difficulties.

Alison, an only child, was 6 years old when her father became head coach of the Ravens. Today, this eighteen-year-old girl is a forward on the University of Notre Dame lacrosse team. She speaks very quietly and calmly, led a Bible study group at school, loves to dance to country music.

A father cherishes his daughter and seeks to protect her from everything he can. This is understandable, because being the daughter of an NFL head coach is not such a pleasant thing. At school, everyone looked up to her – in school or in sports, it doesn’t matter. It always seemed to the coaches that she could do better, to other parents – that because of this girl their children were “pushed in”. “I think because of the last name that is written on her jersey, my daughter had a lot of unnecessary tests,” says her mother Ingrid.

When a father comes to a game with his daughter, he has no control over anything – an unusual feeling. “He has to sit still and let the judges do their job,” Ingrid says. – He can’t tell the coach something. Other parents scream and stomp, and I think they expect the same from my husband. But he does not want to once again draw attention to his person. And in a way, it’s good for him.”

Teacher and student in one bottle, Harbaugh continues to learn from everyone and everywhere.

Before the start of the 2018 season, Harbaugh decided to rebuild his team’s defense. His defensive coordinator Dean Peace left the team and was replaced by linebacker coach Wink Martindale. Harbaugh, who learned the art of defending from the great Jim Johnson, spent two weeks writing down his thoughts on the “new defense” with a pen on the kitchen table.

When Alison saw her father with a bottle of corrector in his hands, she was at a loss.

Alison: What do you have?

John: Text corrector.

Alison: Why?

John: If I write something wrong, I can cover up the word and write over it.

Alison: Have you heard of a pencil and an eraser?

John: Good idea, honey.

And now Harbaugh pretends he’s been using a pencil all his life.

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Despite the Ravens going through five different coordinators with five different formations under Harbaugh, Baltimore’s defense has always been considered one of the best in the League. But before the 2018 season, he made significant changes to it, although at the end of the past season, the Ravens finished sixth in points conceded. Now the Ravens defense is more powerful and more functional than ever, and gives a lot of headaches to opposing coaches.

No doubt Harbaugh will come up with something new on offense too, along with Greg Roman.

Roman is the sixth coordinator of the Harbaugh attack. Only one of those six failed to help lead the team to the playoffs.

Constant changes that could drive someone else crazy help Harbo keep up with the times.

Fifty-seven-year-old Harbaugh sees left tackle Ronnie Stanley exit the locker room with the whistle to start practice. He asks the player what prevented him from arriving a little earlier. Stanley immediately finds an excuse – this and that, the fifth or tenth. He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t mind arguing.

Ten years ago, Harbo would have lost his temper and raised his voice. But not now.

With 118 regular season victories under his belt and a Super Bowl win, he looks at the discipline in black and white without mixing in red. “You know what the thing is,” he says in a completely colorless voice, “training starts for everyone at the same time. And you’re either ready or you’re not. We can stand here with the whole team and wait for you or start without waiting, and then you will be fined. That’s the way it is, buddy.”

Now he (Harbaugh) understands that if you want to disarm a person, just put your hand on his shoulder. “What used to quickly pissed me off, I now look with different eyes. For example, someone’s boots are laced or their chin is not fastened on a helmet – little things that happen all the time. I just point it out to the player and he cleans up. Without unnecessary words and emotions.

Having wondered at the time why he could not get his demands here and now, Harbaugh now realizes that the long-awaited reward brings much more satisfaction. “It took me years to figure it out, and my impulsiveness sometimes made me look bad,” he says. But now I’m much more patient and calmer. I have learned to wait.”

Patience always goes hand in hand with calmness. Before he leaves the house for the game, his wife reminds him that he must keep his composure. In response, he quotes Psalm 46:11: “Stop and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, exalted in the earth.”

“If something does not suit me, I am eager to fight. I want to fix the problem immediately. That is my nature. But the Almighty taught me to be restrained, taught me to let go of the situation and not worry about the little things.

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According to Rosburg, Harbaugh listens closely to his players and coaches. He ends each team meeting with the words: “Does anyone have any thoughts, ideas that can help us?” At the end of the season, he invariably asks his assistants to think about what can be improved in the game and the life of the team.

Over the years, Harbaugh has come to rely more on the advice of the “council of elders”, resulting in things like colored boots at games and loose jerseys at practice. Players are allowed to wear jeans and sneakers on the road and listen to music in the locker room.

“When he first joined, he wanted everything to be his way,” says Panther Sam Koch, a board member and the only player to have stayed with the club since Harbaugh’s arrival. “If you didn’t like it, you got in trouble… looking back, I understand why he behaved the way he did. How are you going to lead the players without authority? And now he is our leader, who listens and hears us.”

Maybe Harbo has become more flexible in small things and everyday matters. But its main principles remain unchanged.

“These are commandments carved in stone,” he says. – We still train as hard as possible, we run after the bounced ball, we do not move to a step during training. Our workouts are like college workouts. So say our newcomers and guys moving from other clubs. If you are running a relay, you must touch the line. No touch – replay not counted. If you don’t play a moment in training, how do I know that you will play it during a match? You can’t do it now, but two minutes before the departure of the confetti, can you?”

Fifty-seven-year-old Harbo is still full of enthusiasm and energy.

Unlike many trainers of his age, he is neither thin nor fat. He does not bear the burden of disappointment and is not parched by fruitless waiting.

His flourishing appearance is partly due to his daily morning workouts with Ingrid, partly to genetics, and partly to the fact that he has been doing what he loves all his life.

He has enough energy to energize others.

The Ravens defensive back Jimmy Smith, who has been with Harbaugh for nine years, says he and other veterans sometimes joke that the coach has become too soft.

However, whoever decides to check it out will not be envied. There is still plenty of gunpowder in the powder flasks.

Smith needed a strong coach – the guy selected in the first round of the 2011 draft was partially drifted. But Harbo was always there.

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“I was always honest with him when I talked about what I did this time, but the coach always found the right words to support me,” says Smith. – He always believed first of all my words, and not what they said about me. He was in my corner of the ring. Thanks to him, I have grown and matured as a player and as a person.”

Smith invited Harbaugh to his wedding in June this year (the ceremony was postponed due to the pandemic) and calls him a mentor and role model. Harbaugh considers Smith a good friend.

Harbaugh easily captures the attention of a crowd of players. He easily draws pictures from his imagination so that others see the same as him. He is a master of motivational speeches and captivating slogans. “You guys are with me, aren’t you?” he usually says.

But in face-to-face communication, he reveals himself even more. He pays attention to communication with every player on the team and every person in the organization. During training, he walks around the field and communicates with the players of each positional group. It happens that the drive from his office to the dining room at the Under Arnour Center takes him as long as the drive from his home in suburban Baltimore to M & T Bank Stadium – he stops to talk to literally everyone.

Tight end Mark Andrews was suffering from a leg injury in October. Recovery was slow, and the return to full participation in training was delayed. Mark called his father, Paul Andrews.

“Well, how are you feeling?” the father asked.

The next day, Andrews was standing behind the coach at practice, and Harbaugh asked as he approached:

“Well, how are you feeling?”

“I was amazed,” says Andrews. For a second, I was speechless. He asked me the same question as my father. This speaks of how “in the know” he is, how he cares for me and for everyone.

As Harbo gets older, the line between coach and father becomes blurred.

He himself believes that this is a great merit of his daughter. He says that now he feels responsible not so much to the team, players and fans, but to their parents.

“When she came home upset, disillusioned with sports, I couldn’t bring myself to think about anything else,” he says. – Conversations with her gave impetus to the development of my relationship with the players. I started to listen to my heart. Asking myself, do I have a heart for my guys? If it were my son, what would he like to hear from me, what would I have to say to him? There is a golden rule: raise your players as your children. But I could not understand what it meant until I understood everything by my own example. I think it was from then on that I really began to care about the players. No, I used to closely follow the fate of each of the guys, but now I began to care more not that they played well and ensured the successful performance of the team, but that they were successful. About their comfortable present and future. And it’s all thanks to Alison.”

Naturally, the purpose of the coach is to correct the mistakes of the wards. But correcting mistakes is more difficult when they are presented in a negative way. Harbaugh reflected on how his daughter’s coaches instilled confidence in her by inspiring and praising her. This is what I have to do for my players every day, he thought.

And from a coach who says, “You’re doing it wrong,” he became a coach who says, “You can do it right.”

“I decided that I would tell them how great they can become, how much I believe in them and how happy I am to be their coach,” says Harbaugh. “As a parent, I am ready to hug many of my daughter’s coaches. And I thought that I could tell my players things that they will remember for a lifetime. Let this be a gift to them.”

Mark Andrews was selected in the third round of the 2018 draft after Hayden Hurst was selected in the first round by the Ravens. But Harbaugh didn’t want him to feel like just a spare tight end.

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Harbaugh once said to him, “You can be the best tight end in NFL history. You remind me a lot of John Mackey – you have a great feel for the game, you catch well and you never give up.

Andrews believed that Harbaugh believed in him and last season led the tight end in scoring with 10 touchdowns and made his first Pro Bowl.

Harbo’s heart has won the hearts of many, many players. After the murder of George Floyd, he organized an online conference, which consisted in the fact that all its participants were silent for 8 minutes 46 seconds. He supported the idea of ​​making Liberation Day a national holiday. In 2017, when the idea of ​​going down on one knee to play the national anthem was deemed almost a threat to national security, Harbaugh stood with his hands clasped with his players.

“He always supported his players,” says Smith.

McGahey was drafted by the Bills and played for four different clubs. And he spent only 36% of his career with the Ravens. But he chose to end his career as a Ravens player. In a farewell interview, he thanked Harbaugh for creating “the best atmosphere in an NFL club.”

“I told him he made me who I am,” says McGahey. “He instilled in me a culture of training, and I continued to train harder after I left Baltimore. I appreciate everything he did for me, all his banter and banter, even that memorable bed check he gave me once in San Diego. As I got older, I realized that all this was only good for me. ”

These kinds of player revelations make Harbaugh feel like he’s been doing the right thing for the last dozen years. Of course, the Super Bowl ring, 2019 Coach of the Year title and a career winning percentage of 0.615, the 30th best in history, speaks volumes.

But his story is at least as much about dealing with people as it is about victories and defeats on the field.

Interesting changes can happen to people in the pursuit of influence.

“The most important thing I’ve learned as I get older is that you have to think more about others and less about yourself,” says Harbaugh. – You can establish yourself as a head coach or boss by achieving success with the team. But when others feel that they are successful because of you, you become their leader and leader.

See also: Harbaugh explains how the Ravens can add offense

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The largest stadiums in the world, which stadium is the largest

The word “stadium” comes from the Greek word for “stand”. And stadiums have evolved a lot since antiquity. These are already huge complexes that can accommodate the population of a small country.

Any significant sporting event cannot be imagined without a large stadium. Well, where else, if not on a large-scale arena, to show the achievements of athletes to active fans? Therefore, today, during the construction of stadiums, first of all, a priority is set: the athlete and the spectator should be as comfortable and safe as possible.

Therefore, in recent times, most of the new stadiums can accommodate a maximum of 60,000 fans. But you can find such arenas that differ in scale. Introducing the largest stadiums in the world.

Melbourne Cricket Ground – Australia’s largest stadium

This gigantic stadium can accommodate exactly 100,000 and 18 more people in its stands. And this arena is the largest in Australia. Moreover, it is the largest cricket stadium in the world. It is here that the national team of the country competes in this game. The Australian football team also plays in this arena. Australian football matches are also held here. The stadium itself was built back in 1854. And since that time it has been reconstructed more than once. Significant competitions were also held in this oldest sports venue. At 19In 1956 Melbourne Cricket Ground hosted the Summer Olympic Games, and in 2000 the stadium became the venue for Olympic football matches.

Australia’s largest stadium

Darrell Royal

The former site of this stadium is Texas Memorial Stadium. Its capacity is not much more than that of the previous giant, namely 100 thousand and 119 people. The arena appeared in 1923 in the city of Austin, US state of Texas. The playground was named after American football coach Darrell Royal. The arena is now home to the Texas Longhorns.

Brian Denny Stadium – “monster stadium”

The capacity of this sports monster is 101,000 and 821 seats. The arena was built in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA, in 1928. And initially it accommodated only 18 thousand people. Now the audience can fit much more. And while no significant events take place at the stadium, it is used as the home arena of the local university’s American football team.

Ohio Stadium

This stadium is located in Columbus, Ohio, USA. It was built in the distant 1922, and then he received only 66 thousand fans. Now the capacity of the Ohio Stadium is 102 thousand 329 people. The arena is used as the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes American football team. It should be noted that there is no lighting in the stadium. That is why all matches are held exclusively during daylight hours. If there is a need for night competitions, then special portable lighting equipment is delivered to the arena.

Ohio Stadium – almost doubled capacity since inception

Niyland Stadium

Niyland Stadium is the sixth largest stadium in terms of capacity. It is located in the American city of Knoxville and can accommodate 102 thousand and 455 people. The arena was built in 1921, and then it took only 3,200 fans. The stadium is now home to the Tennessee Volunteers American football team.

Azteca – the largest stadium in Latin America Azteca has seats for 105,000 and 64 people. The arena was built in 1966 in the Mexican capital of Mexico City. And he has already managed to host two World Cups, at 1970 and 1986. On June 22, 1986, Azteca witnessed Maradona score a goal with a hand that was given the name “Hand of God”. And three minutes later, Diego scored the “Goal of the Century”, which was recognized as the best in the history of the World Cup. Maradona scored a goal after his breakthrough into the penalty area of ​​the England team, then he beat six players, including the goalkeeper. Now the Azteca trains the Mexican national football team. In addition, the 10-time champion of Mexico, the football club “America” ​​plays here.

Azteca – the largest stadium in Latin America

Beaver Stadium

Fourth place went to Beaver Stadium. It can accommodate 106 thousand 572 people. And this is the second largest arena in the United States. The stadium was built in 1960, and in the year of construction it accommodated a little more than 46 thousand people. Beaver Stadium is located on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. And now the Penn State Nittany Lions American football team is training there.

Michigan Stadium – the largest stadium in the US

This is already the largest stadium in North America, the USA and the entire Western Hemisphere. In addition, it is the largest American football arena in the world. Capacity Michigan Stadium 109 thousand and 901 people. The arena was built in 1927 with 72,000 seats. The stadium is located in Ann Arbon, Michinan, where the Michigan Wolverines train. This is where the lacrosse team players hone their skills. Sometimes hockey matches are held at Michingan Stadium. And on December 11, 2010, a hockey match attendance record was set here. More than 104 thousand people came to watch the game between the teams of the two universities.

Indian Youth Stadium

This arena already has a capacity of 120,000 people. The Indian Youth Stadium was built in 1984 in the Indian city of Kolkata. It hosts matches of the Indian national football team, as well as games of the football clubs Mohammedan, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal. Athletics competitions are also held here.

May Day Stadium – the largest stadium in the world

This arena is located in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. It can accommodate 150 thousand people and, therefore, can be called the largest stadium in the world. Built it at 1989 year special for the thirteenth festival of students and youth. But now the North Korean football team plays on it.

The largest stadium in the world is located in North Korea

Externally, the May Day stadium looks like a magnolia flower.