The beginning of the spring sport’s season is marked with excitement, nerves, and hopes for a winning record. Back In August of 2025, boys lacrosse selected their captains as seniors Julian Gage, Jamison Lemire, and Grayson Richards. Coming from the backfield, Gage started his lacrosse career just last year. Richards and Lemire, in their fourth years, lead from the midfield and attack respectively.
About being a captain, Lemire said that it means a lot to him to be chosen and also says that, “it’s a reflection of the trust my teammates and coaches have in me.” Leading a team is a big responsibility, however both Gage and Lemire look at this possible stressor in a positive light. Lemire explains, “There are definitely some nerves,” however continues saying, “it pushes me to stay focused, set the tone, and make sure I’m doing everything I can to help the team succeed.” Gage also says “if I want to lead then I will have to put those nerves aside.” Both explain that this role can bring stress, but they have decided to channel that stress into excitement for their team.
Moreover, the three have had the opportunity to play under previous leaders, and their impact has guided the way current leaders manage team decision making, gameplay, and morale. Richards highlights Brayden Cody as being an exemplar throughout his years on the team. Specifically he notes that many leaders emphasize positivity on the field but, “he would also let you know when you did something wrong”. Richards was able to interpret Cody’s captainship methods. He says, “When people in leadership roles skip over mistakes and always look for the positive there is no accountability in your mistakes and I feel that without accountability there is no room for growth.”
Additionally, having captains serves many purposes and has many benefits. Starting his reasoning, Gage explains, “if an underclassman watches a student around his age do something, he then believes that he can accomplish said activity.” His words show the importance of having a player closer in age as an exemplar, opposed to just a coach. Furthermore, Gage adds, “The captains have also been in the underclassmen’s shoes and can help them in different ways because they know how it feels,” placing emphasis on the importance of having role models who know exactly what it feels like to be a younger player.
Welcoming new players onto a team is an aspect of all high school sports. As freshmen begin, and others join for the first time, many may have nerves about being introduced to a new team, or even a new sport. Richards adds specifically how important the dynamic of a team is, and that sometimes it is not even the skill of each individual player that makes a team win, but that “the team with more chemistry and morale will come out on top.” As advice for those joining, Lemire says, “Everyone was new at some point, and the best thing you can do is play loose, trust yourself, and learn as you do.” Adding onto advice for incoming players, Richards finished with, “If we can work as a cohesive unit on the field, good things will come from it, and it has worked for the past 3 years for this program.”
