On Saturday, Feb. 1, the girls lacrosse team hosted their first “try lacrosse” practice of the season in the gym. Captains Mary Lennes (St. Agnes ‘25) and Dia Chaney (SPA ‘26), with the help of 3A section coach of the year Taylor Tvedt, are opening up the lacrosse season with more open and beginner-friendly practices.

On Instagram, @spagirlslax posted a pre-season practice schedule. The calendar read, “Open to all girls in grades 7-12, no equipment or experience necessary!” These practices provide beginners with the opportunity to play alongside more-experienced players, creating the perfect environment for the Spartans to build momentum and turn their record around. This also allows for girls from different schools to meet one another and build relationships.

When building this program, the coaching staff wanted to emphasize culture, due to the fact that the team is a relatively new co-op between SPA, Nova, St. Agnes, and St.Croix Lutheran.

“Our entire coaching staff is very passionate about growing the game. We are dedicated to building a culture that welcomes all players looking to try lacrosse.” Tvedt said.

This mixture of beginners and experienced players is something that sets the lacrosse community apart from other sports. “I think that allowing beginners to bond with the team sooner will allow us to have a more successful season.” Sophomore Maddie Wright said. “Lacrosse has such a big learning curve and it will be good for our team to get more reps in.”

Tvedt looks towards the upperclassmen to lead the team to success. “Upperclassmen set the tone for commitment to these practices, the intensity level during drills, and in fostering a safe and respectful environment for anyone willing to learn the game.”

The Spartans will host their next open gym for anyone interested on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 3-5pm.