How is Bethel Park girls lacrosse team rebuilding after graduating 75% of last year’s varsity squad. What challenges and opportunities does the young roster present. Who are the key returning players and new contributors for the team this season.
Rebuilding Year for Bethel Park Girls Lacrosse
The Bethel Park girls lacrosse team is facing a significant rebuilding challenge this season after graduating about 75% of last year’s varsity squad. Coach Becky Luzier acknowledged the difficulties but remains optimistic about the team’s potential for growth.
“This is a major rebuilding year for us,” Luzier stated. “The good news is we return some great now-upperclassmen and we have an abundance of freshmen who are working hard to help contribute sooner rather than later.”
Key Losses from Last Season
The 2022 graduating class played a crucial role in Bethel Park’s recent success:
- Five players went on to compete in college sports
- Two All-Americans were part of that class
- The team spent the last four years at the top of their league
Replacing this level of talent and experience presents a significant challenge for the coaching staff and returning players.
Young Roster Brings Challenges and Opportunities
The current Bethel Park girls lacrosse program features an exceptionally young roster:
- 31 total athletes in the program
- 20 freshmen
- 4 sophomores
This youth-heavy composition presents both challenges and opportunities for the team. While inexperience may lead to growing pains early in the season, it also provides a chance to develop a strong foundation for future success.
Benefits of a Young Roster
- Long-term player development
- Building team chemistry over multiple seasons
- Opportunities for younger players to gain valuable varsity experience
- Potential for rapid improvement as the season progresses
Key Returning Players and Senior Leadership
Despite the significant roster turnover, Bethel Park still has several experienced players to lead the team:
Senior Attackers
- Meghan Krapp
- Amanda
These senior attackers will be crucial in providing offensive firepower and leadership for the young squad. Their experience and knowledge of the program’s recent success will be invaluable in guiding the underclassmen.
Developing New Contributors
With such a large incoming freshman class, identifying and nurturing new talent will be a priority for the coaching staff. Coach Luzier emphasized the hard work being put in by the freshmen to contribute as soon as possible.
Strategies for Integrating Young Players
- Increased practice repetitions for skill development
- Mentoring partnerships between upperclassmen and freshmen
- Gradual introduction to varsity-level competition
- Focus on fundamentals and team concepts
Adjusting Expectations and Goals for the Season
Given the team’s youth and inexperience, it’s important for coaches, players, and supporters to adjust their expectations for the season. Instead of focusing solely on win-loss records, the emphasis should be on player development and team growth.
Potential Goals for the Season
- Improve individual skills and lacrosse IQ
- Develop team chemistry and communication
- Gain valuable game experience for underclassmen
- Show measurable improvement from the beginning to the end of the season
- Lay the foundation for future success
The Role of Upperclassmen in Team Development
While the roster is dominated by underclassmen, the importance of the returning upperclassmen cannot be overstated. These experienced players will play a crucial role in:
- Setting the tone for practice intensity and work ethic
- Providing on-field leadership during games
- Sharing knowledge of team systems and strategies
- Offering emotional support and encouragement to younger teammates
Coach Luzier will likely rely heavily on these veteran players to help bridge the experience gap and accelerate the development of the freshmen and sophomores.
Building for the Future: Long-Term Program Success
While the current season may present challenges, the influx of young talent provides an opportunity to build a strong foundation for the future of Bethel Park girls lacrosse. By focusing on player development and creating a positive team culture, the program can set itself up for sustained success in the coming years.
Keys to Long-Term Program Building
- Consistent coaching philosophy and systems
- Emphasis on fundamental skill development at all levels
- Creating a pipeline of talent through youth programs
- Fostering a winning culture and tradition
- Continual evaluation and adaptation of training methods
Is it possible for a team to experience significant improvement over the course of a single season, even with a very young roster? While it may be challenging, there are numerous examples of young teams making substantial strides as players gain experience and confidence. The key lies in setting realistic goals, maintaining a positive atmosphere, and celebrating small victories along the way.
Strategies for Accelerating Team Development
To maximize the potential of their young roster, the Bethel Park coaching staff may employ several strategies to accelerate team development:
1. Simplified Game Plans
By focusing on a core set of plays and concepts, coaches can help younger players build confidence and reduce mental overload during games. As the season progresses and players become more comfortable, additional complexity can be gradually introduced.
2. Increased Scrimmage Time
Providing ample opportunities for game-like situations in practice can help inexperienced players adjust to the speed and intensity of varsity competition. This approach can also help identify which younger players may be ready for expanded roles.
3. Video Analysis Sessions
Regular film study sessions can accelerate player understanding of team concepts and individual techniques. This visual learning approach can be particularly effective for younger athletes still developing their lacrosse IQ.
4. Positional Flexibility
Experimenting with players in multiple positions early in the season can help coaches identify each athlete’s strengths and find the best roles for team success. This flexibility can also create more opportunities for playing time among the large freshman class.
5. Team Building Activities
Off-field bonding experiences can help accelerate team chemistry and create a supportive environment for young players to develop. This can be especially important when integrating a large number of new teammates.
Measuring Success Beyond Wins and Losses
In a rebuilding season with a young roster, it’s crucial to define and celebrate success in ways that go beyond the traditional win-loss record. Some alternative metrics for evaluating team progress could include:
- Improvement in key statistical categories (e.g., shot percentage, draw controls, turnovers)
- Player retention and engagement throughout the season
- Development of leadership skills among upperclassmen
- Positive feedback from opponents and officials on team sportsmanship and competitiveness
- Growth in tactical understanding and execution of team strategies
Are there any specific areas of the game where young teams often struggle most? Consistency tends to be a major challenge for inexperienced squads. Young players may have impressive performances one game but struggle the next as they learn to manage the physical and mental demands of varsity competition. Coaches and team leaders can help by emphasizing the importance of preparation routines and mental toughness techniques.
The Importance of Patience in Player Development
With such a young roster, it’s crucial for everyone involved – coaches, players, parents, and fans – to exercise patience throughout the season. Player development is rarely linear, and there will likely be both encouraging breakthroughs and frustrating setbacks along the way.
Keys to Maintaining Patience
- Celebrate small victories and individual improvements
- Provide constructive feedback focused on effort and process rather than outcomes
- Maintain a long-term perspective on player and program development
- Create a supportive environment where players feel comfortable taking risks and learning from mistakes
- Regularly communicate progress and goals to keep everyone aligned and motivated
By embracing the challenges of this rebuilding year and focusing on long-term development, the Bethel Park girls lacrosse program can lay the groundwork for a bright future. The experiences gained by this young roster will be invaluable as they continue to grow and compete in the seasons to come.
Kaylyn Hewes – Randolph-Macon
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As a Senior (2021)
- Appeared in 11 games
- Recorded 11 goals for the season
- Ranked second on the team for draw control
- Ranked third on the team for shot percentage
- Had two goals against Randolph on 100 percent shooting
- Registered one goal, one assist, and three draw controls against Ferrum
- ODAC All-Academic Team
As a Junior (2020)
- ODAC All-Academic Team
- Team captain
- Started all 7 games
- 3 goals & 3 assists for 6 points
- Second on team with 27 draw controls
- Multiple draw controls in each game
- Season-high 7 draw controls in home win over Meredith
- 1 goal & 1 assist in home wins over Baldwin Wallace and Roger Williams
- 4 draw controls, 4 ground balls & 3 caused turnovers vs.
Baldwin Wallace
As a Sophomore (2019)
- All-ODAC Second Team
- Fourth in the conference for draw controls with 85
- Appeared in all 19 games, earning 17 starts
- Earned seven draw controls three different times
- Led team with 31 ground balls
- Third on team for caused turnovers with 15
- Earned 24 points with 17 goals and seven assists
- Dean’s List
- ODAC All-Academic Team
As a Freshman (2018)
- Appeared in all 18 games for the Yellow Jackets starting 12 of those
- Named to ODAC All-Tournament Team
- Was third on the team and the leading freshman in draw controls with 52
- Tallied 18 goals on 30 shots and 15 ground balls
- Dean’s List
- ODAC All-Academic
High School
- Earned lacrosse Most Valuable Player awards three years in a row (2015-2017)
- Earned Second-Team All-County honors in 2016 & 2017
- Also earned letters for swim and soccer
- Served as team captain for lacrosse in 2016 & 2017
- Earned recognition as Second Team All-County for soccer in 2017 as well as regional and county champion in swim in 2015, 2016 & 2017
- Graduated in the top 2% of her class at North County
Personal
- Majoring in Computer Science and Cybersecurity
- Favorite class so far is Calculus I
- Earned Douglas W. Foard Phi Beta Kappa Sophomore Recognition Award
- Earned C. Lyndon Harrell Freshman Recognition
- Serves as a New Student Transition Captain at R-MC
- Member of Pi Mu Epsilon
- Daughter of Alicia and Dave Hewes
- Favorite book is The Great Gatsby
- Favorite movie is Guardians of the Galaxy
- Favorite food is spaghetti
Foard Phi Beta Kappa Sophomore Recognition Award
Women’s Lacrosse, Nine Student-Athletes Earn Academic Honors
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With roster loaded with underclassmen, Bethel Park girls lacrosse looks to learn, grow
By: Ray Fisher
Saturday, April 22, 2023 | 11:01 AM
Paul Studt | SportsByPaul
Bethel Park’s Meghan Krapp (27), a senior attacker, competes during the 2023 season.
Paul Studt | SportsByPaul
Bethel Park’s Carley O’Mara (21), a senior midfielder/defender, and senior goalie Ashleigh Manns (24) compete during the 2023 season.
Paul Studt | SportsByPaul
Bethel Park’s Averie Moul (1), a junior midfielder/defender, competes during the 2023 season.
Paul Studt | SportsByPaul
Bethel Park’s Reese Mellinger (4), a freshman attacker, competes during the 2023 season.
Paul Studt | SportsByPaul
Bethel Park’s Meghan Krapp (27) plays against Upper St. Clair last season.
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It’s been tough sledding for the Bethel Park girls lacrosse team.
“We graduated about 75% of our varsity team last year, so this is a major rebuilding year for us,” coach Becky Luzier said. “The good news is we return some great now-upperclassmen and we have an abundance of freshmen who are working hard to help contribute sooner rather than later.
“We have spent the last four years at the top of this league with the 2022 class being a major reason for that.
Five girls went on to play college sports, and we had two All-Americans in that class.”
There are 31 athletes in the girls lacrosse program this season. A staggering 20 are freshmen and four are sophomores.
Senior leadership is provided by attackers Meghan Krapp, Amanda Lincoln and Maya Shah, goalie Ashleigh Manns and midfielders/defenders Carley O’Mara and Corrine Hewes.
Averie Moul, a midfielder/defender, is the lone junior in the program.
“Starting off the season was a little difficult since we graduated most of our starters,” Krapp said. “Since we became a predominantly younger team, seeing as 20 freshmen came up to play this year, we had a lot of rebuilding to do. However, as the season continues, I can see how much we are improving every day. We have become a unit, and we now thrive off working together.
“We have been working hard to maintain a spot in the playoffs this year. Our first few games were a difficult start, but now, we found our groove and how to work together to achieve our goals.
I believe if we keep fighting together towards making it to the playoffs, we will definitely do it.”
O’Mara agrees with her co-captain that a playoff berth is hopefully on the horizon for the Black Hawks.
“We started off the season with a few more losses than we would have liked, but our team is young and we are hoping to keep only getting stronger as a team,” O’Mara said. “I expect us to make the playoffs and keep the tradition that Bethel Park has built with playing that far into the season.”
O’Mara, Krapp and Moul are serving as team captains in 2023.
“It’s a new experience to be so young and inexperienced,” Luzier said, “but my three captains are excellent leaders. They have been aiding the staff in making this year a mix of focused growth and acceptance of the things we can’t control right now.”
Krapp has been playing lacrosse for 10 years and has mixed emotions for her senior season.
“I am so glad that I get to play my last season as a captain of the team, especially being a co-captain with Carley and Averie,” she said.
“It’s sort of bittersweet for us to spend this last year playing together as co-captains after almost 10 years of playing together, but I would not want to do it with anyone else.
“I hope that by the time the season is over, I will have made a positive impact on my younger teammates and am hopefully setting a good example for some future Bethel Park girls lacrosse captains.”
Krapp is editor-in-chief of her school newspaper, the Hawk Eye. She also is a member of DECA and the yearbook club.
DECA defines its mission as preparing “emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.”
“I will be attending the DECA international conference in Orlando with some other Bethel Park students,” Krapp said. “My friend Merris (Gable) and I co-founded a nonprofit charity organization that we will be competing with there.”
O’Mara is a three-sport athlete at Bethel Park. She also participated on the girls golf team and as a 5-foot-10 forward on the girls basketball team.
“My (lacrosse) season is going pretty well,” she said. “I am happy with my improvement from last season and can’t wait to see my game grow in the future.”
O’Mara, Krapp, Lincoln and Moul are the only returning starters on this year’s team, which was 1-4 in section play and 1-5 overall in mid-April.
“Our starting lineup is pretty fluid with so much young talent,” Luzier said, “but we also returned goalie Ashleigh Manns and midfielder Corrine Hewes, who were major contributors last year. The rest of our starters are all freshmen and that makeup changes game-to-game.”
The freshman class is represented by attackers Bryleigh Burke, Reese Mellinger, Claire McDonnell, Alexis LaFlam, Riley Woods and Reese Fontanesi; midfielders Jennifer Heh and Mallory Gramm; defenders Sophia Howrylak, Halie Minor, Kaylie Conway, Athena Clagett and Karley Kroll; and Caelyn Stewart (ATT/MF), Morgan Cook (MF/ATT), Kylie Denmark (MF/ATT), Sarah Neal (MF/ATT), Scotlyn Paxton (MF/D), Madison Cook (MF/D) and Ashley Stasik (MF/D).
