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| Meet the Coaches
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Britt
Cornaby - Varsity Head Coach
For me as a coach, the most gratifying part
of coaching is to see your team put aside personal differences
and to unify for a common goal. To see each of you grow individually
and as a team is what makes it all worth it. I have been so
proud to be a part of the Centennial Lacrosse Family, and
I truly feel like we are family. Drawing on each other’s
strengths and helping each other in our goal to be better,
we have had great successes this year. Moments that I’m
particularly proud of are winning the #2 seed, beating Boise,
winning against Bishop Kelly in overtime and now winning our
first play off game. A great observation made by a parent
this year was the fact that we don’t have just one person
that stands out in the game. We have a team full of great
players that play really well together. I consider our team
an All-Star team that will continue to grow and will succeed
to meet their full potential. I am grateful for the opportunity
I have to be a part of this journey to excellence.
Britt Cornaby
Varsity Head Coach
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Bruce Wallace-
JV Head Coach
To the 2011 Centennial JV Lacrosse Team;
As we near the close of what has been an eventful and very
successful lacrosse season, it seems appropriate that I have
one more opportunity to share some thoughts with you, the
great young men that have made it such a fulfilling experience.
So everyone move in tight and listen closely. Its story time!
There was once a group of twenty-nine young men, who gathered
during a cold week in February with the intent of becoming
a lacrosse team. They came from diverse backgrounds with a
wide range of personalities and interests. Some were experienced
players with good fundamental skills while many were new to
the sport and had never played on an organized team. All of
them endured the initial weeks of cold windy practices, and
looked forward to beautiful spring days that would surely
be coming later in the season (based on this week’s
forecast, those days may not come until the season is over).
Although at first the ball often spent more time on the ground
than in any player’s crosse, they worked hard and began
to steadily improve. The hours of repetitive drills, ground
balls, passing, catching, and shooting, began to show dividends.
They won their games. Some were convincing victories while
others were hard fought battles. Even more important than
the victories, each player’s skills improved and each
young man began contributing to the team. The season wasn’t
without adversity. There were multiple concussions, injured
ribs, sprained ankles, broken wrists, and players sick for
key games. Through it all, they learned that by pulling together
as a team, focusing on what you can control, being positive
and not giving in to negative thinking, working hard, and
being persistent, they could overcome life’s challenges
either on or off the field. If one event could characterize
this team, it would be the defining moment after the last
game of the season and the team’s first league loss.
Instead wallowing in bitter negative feelings because of the
loss, the team chose a positive response. They swarmed their
goalie, who had filled in for an injured team mate even though
he had no previous experience at the position and would be
facing the best team in the league and several powerful shooters.
He hadn’t stopped every goal, the team hadn’t
won, but he had done his best, making several saves, and doing
what he could to help his team in a difficult situation. The
team, recognizing that effort, hoisted him on their shoulders
and carried him to the sidelines among a chorus of cheers
and applause. Watching that scene one would have thought they
had just won the championship. Well, in some ways they had.
It has been my pleasure to be your coach. Thank you for allowing
me to be part of this exciting time in your lives. I hope
that in future years when you reflect on this season, that
you will have fond memories. I hope that the lessons we have
learned together and the stories that we have shared will
have a positive impact on your lives. I also hope that you
have developed a love for the great game of lacrosse. I’m
excited to see what your remaining High School years have
in store for you.
Thanks for a great season,
Bruce Wallace
JV Head Coach |
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Ross Miller -
Varsity Assistant Coach
Having not seen high school lacrosse in Idaho
for over 6 years, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect
as a coach for Centennial High’s Varsity program this
year. However, right from the start I was immediately impressed
by the amount of talent on this team. The Table Rock tournament
in early March served as a good showcase of our skills and
our ability to play well against anyone in the area. Then
shortly thereafter, a season opening 18-3 thumper against
Capital gave us a bit of confidence and momentum moving forward.
For weeks though I had heard over and over again about how
good Boise was, ant that they have an All American who’s
incredible, and that their offense is really complex. Luck
of the draw, and we were going to face the almighty Boise
in our second game. Solid pressure by our defense provided
the opportunities our offense needed, and resulted in a 12-8
victory for the Patriots. From that point on, I was convinced
that Centennial High has just as skilled of lacrosse players
as any team in the valley. By season’s end, we had earned
solid wins versus Mountain view, Rocky Mountain, Skyview,
Meridian, Vallivue, Wood River, Bishop Kelly, and Borah (in
addition to Capital and Bosie), with our only road bumps being
an overtime loss to Eagle and an all-around bad day against
Timberline.
What I’ve learned about the team is this:
1. When they’re on they’re REALLY ON, and
2. In my opinion, they’re the most well-rounded and
team –oriented squad in the state. It’s been a
fun year, and I can’t wait to do it again in 2012!
Ross Miller
Varsity Assistant Coach
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