Mingyu Lee '28
Sep 12, 2025
Starting this year, following in the footsteps of basketball, the Blue Storm lacrosse and baseball teams have been given the opportunity to train outside the spring season. The boys lacrosse and baseball teams recently began practicing in the fall term, while the girls lacrosse team will practice in the winter.
Athletic director Lauren Jacobs explained: “We chose to offer a second season for some of our sports to elevate those programs. We chose ‘team’ sports as these are the sports at Mercersburg that currently face the most challenges when competing in the MAPL. We highly encourage kids who are impactful athletes to stay within the PGA in which the second season is offered.”
Athletes and coaches expressed approval and gratitude. Lacrosse player Dylan Ridgway ’26 said, “Being able to practice outside of this season has not only increased my confidence as a player, but it has increased my ability to build chemistry with my teammates and learn their play styles.” Teammate Liam Glick ’27 added, “ We are having a major advantage right now in this fall to really push ourselves to make sure we are ready for the spring.”
Baseball players are also benefitting from the new opportunity. “During the game season, we don't really have a lot of time to practice and learn new things, since we have game after game every weekend. This off-season has helped me to enhance my skills as we have full practices and full weeks to focus on different concepts and go deeper into skills,” explained Avik Dalai ’28.
Boys lacrosse head coach Rick Sowell said, “This year in particular, is my first year so it gives me an opportunity to get to know the boys. It allows me to assess their abilities to be able to put them in a position where they could be successful in the future.”
However, some challenges remain. Sowell noted, “We do not have our entire team because of fall sports, but the benefit of being able to prepare during the fall outweighs it.”
Head boys basketball coach Sean Crocker, a veteran of off-season practices, said, “I think the focus is much more on individual skills development. It allows athletes to focus more on skill development, and also getting to know each other as a team on the court without the added pressure of games coming up.”
Some mentioned concerns about facilities, especially with the dining hall being moved to the Hale Field House while Ford Hall undergoes reconstruction. Crocker said, “There might actually be less challenges in the fall because the only team we really compete with for spaces is the volleyball team, whereas in the winter, until the dining hall is back open, there are five teams that need to have basketball practice, and there are only three courts.”
Head girls lacrosse coach Kristin Ahlgren echoed this sentiment: “Typically in the winter, we've always met here in the field house, which is not an option this year. But now the turf field has lights, so as long as it's not snowing or freezing, we'll be outside getting our work in there.”
Coaches and players alike expect the extra season of hard work pays off when spring arrives, giving Blue Storm athletes the chance to showcase their growth and bring their teams to new levels of success.