Throughout the fall athletic season, our student-athletes demonstrated resilience, discipline, and teamwork. For other pelicans, they have just completed or begun their offseason by staying active through conditioning, skill development, and bonding activities to ensure they enter their upcoming seasons prepared and united. For many of the athletes here, their off-season does not mean rest; it means working hard to be ready for the season coming up.
The offseason allows athletes to build muscle, improve endurance, and sharpen technical skills without the pressure of competitions. Athletes can recharge mentally while still staying connected to their sport, helping them return more confident. In addition, during the off-season, athletes have time to bond with their team without competition and get to know their teammates on a personal level, which can lead to more team trust and better communication. Specifically, the Varsity Girls Lacrosse team has been training every week to prepare for their upcoming season in the spring. The team has been holding practices either before school or during weekends, where they get to play with new players while also getting in shape for the season.
The first team gathering happened early in the fall when Head Coach Stephanie Bissett gathered everyone to introduce the upcoming season and what each player should keep an eye out for. The seniors and juniors on the team took the lead early in the off-season to start practicing as a team to build team connection and talent. Early on Friday mornings, the team went out to the upper turf to do simple shooting drills and games such as ‘Crossbar challenges’ and ‘3 v 2’ to have fun but also to practice simple skills such as passing, game IQ, and communication skills. The drills were very similar to the ones practiced during the season and pushed everyone to get familiar with the rhythm of the play as well as the intensity of the plays.
Juliana Bang ’27, a junior on the team, commented, “[The offseason] is an opportunity for everyone to get to try new things that put them out of their comfort zones, and it helps us really build as a team without running any plays.”
Aside from their practices, the busy pelicans have frequent team dinners, including a recent one with delicious Italian pasta and salads, made and provided by their coaches. This dinner consisted of the majority of the team and had both new and returning players. Together they did icebreakers, introducing everyone’s guilty pleasures, which consisted of watching Hamilton and recommending unique food combinations. The team also later played telephone and sister sister, filling the room with laughter and joy. During their off-season bonding, the team also planned a mini surprise baby shower for Coach Bissett with Mexican food and gifts for Coach Bissett.
“I reached out to the coaches and some girls on the team and got their input for what could be something special for Bissett, given all that she does for us,” said Wiggenhauser
Aside from planned practices and team dinners, the players consistently go out on the turf and to the lacrosse wall to practice stick skills and conditioning on top of their busy schedules in the fall.
Even though competition feels months away, our busy pelicans continue to put in the work behind the scenes. With dedicated training sessions, team bonding activities, and a determination to grow stronger together, they are laying the foundation for success in the seasons ahead. When game day arrives, their offseason commitment will be what sets them apart.
