Author: Henry Meier
Oxy’s Men’s Club Lacrosse team is coming off one of its most disappointing seasons in recent memory. After several very successful years where they were consistently contending for a spot near the top of the standings in the South Division B Western Collegiate Lacrosse League, these stick-wielding warriors experienced a disappointing season last year. Their 3-6 campaign was the not up to their usual standards on the field as they were hurt by the graduation of some key players from the year before.
“We still had a solid core group of guys committed to the team, but failed to fill the necessary roles we lost to graduating players,” co-captain Andrew Leede (junior) said. “With a small roster and a noticeable lack of effort, we seemed doomed from the beginning.”
While this may have been the case, the Tigers certainly didn’t roll over by any means. Often short-handed, they continued to show up and play with great fervor.
“Perhaps the scoreboards didn’t always read in our favor; nonetheless, bloody and battered, we would leave the arena of battle better men, emotionally and physically,” Leede said.
With last season behind them, Men’s Lacrosse is looking forward to the return of a rejuvenated team this season. The new year brings not only new faces on the team but also a change in coaches.
After last year’s difficult campaign, long time Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach Boz Crowther decided to leave the team to focus on his career and raising his kids. While a permanent replacement for Crowther is still being determined, an interim duo of former Oxy players are stepping in to fill the void left by his departure.
Both Michael Covino ’08 and Ozzie Baron ’08 are experienced lacrosse players that have a great connection with the team, having played on it last year, as well as being genuinely enthusiastic about coaching for their alma mater.
“This is a spectacular opportunity for us,” Baron said. “We both love lacrosse and the Occidental experience. Being able to continue a relationship with both the team and the institution after we have graduated is like having eaten a whole pie and finding out there is still another slice that magically appeared out of nowhere that we get to continue eating.”
“We are returning a dedicated group of core players who all want to do great things, win games, and have a good time,” co-captain Cameron Kerst (senior) said. “We also have an enthusiastic group of awesome freshmen.”
The team is wasting no time in getting things rolling even though their season doesn’t officially begin until spring semester.
“Tuesday, Oct. 7th will be our first practice,” Kerst said. “We tend to play year round and fall ball is always a good time. We are also going to play in a tournament at California Lutheran in November.”
Refreshed and full of hope, the Tigers are feeling that this coming season could find them back in the hunt for a playoff spot and all the glory and fame that comes with being one of the elite club teams in the South Division B Western Collegiate Lacrosse League. Io Triumphe men!
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