This year is shaping up to be one of the best in years for the Saint Joseph High School lacrosse team. After having a rollercoaster few years with numerous coaches, the team has recently hired a fresh new staff who are determined to carry the team to the next level. For the third year in a row, the team will start off with a new head coach, but this year it will be different. Coach Guy Van Arsdale and assistant coaches Jake Taylor and Mikey Wynne, who are both alumni of the Notre Dame lacrosse team, are taking over the program. Their experience, passion, and knowledge of the game have already made us look at lacrosse differently.
Saint Joe made it to the semi-state last season before falling to Guerin Catholic. That defeat was tough, but it was a reminder that we are closer than ever to being one of Indiana’s best teams. Although we lost five seniors, the heart of the team remains intact, and the expectations are higher than ever. Senior captains Jack Keegan and Mason Kazmierzak, and others, are determined to lead us back, but this time to a state title.
What’s remarkable this year is the coaching staff. Coach Van Arsdale is not just another high school coach; he’s coached at the college and professional levels. He’s known for pushing players to be their best on and off the field. Going to a practice, observers can see that he really cares about building team culture.
And then there are the assistants, Jake Taylor and Mikey Wynne. To anyone who follows Notre Dame lacrosse, the names bring instant excitement. Jake Taylor was as crafty as he was tough. He was a two-time National Champion as a player and also a two-time All-American. Mikey Wynne brought speed and firepower in his time playing with the Irish, bringing the experience of having started all of his collegiate games.
Graduating five seniors and losing our leading scorer to transfer mean the identity of this squad will be different, but the energy of the younger guys coming up is noticeable. The juniors and sophomores are hungry, and the seniors want to finish on top. The seniors are the anchors, and they lead the charge with intensity and leadership. They’ve been here for all the changes in coaching, and they don’t want to lose this opportunity.
There is also a sense of family that is building this season. From the new coaching staff to players coming back, the group has all bought into the same mentality: playing for each other, working harder than the rest of the state, and believing we can win anything. Indiana lacrosse is just getting better and better every year, so this group will have to dig in.
Entering the season, the goal is evident: win state. The sting of not making it all the way last year still motivates the group, and this year, with Coach Van Arsdale, Coach Taylor, and Coach Wynne leading the way, the team is not just playing for another semi-state run. They are aiming to finish the job. For Saint Joe lacrosse, the future looks bright, and the journey starts now.
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