The seniors’ final first week of practice is cold. Some coaches get sick, practices get canceled, but the girls pick up their lacrosse sticks and begin to shake off the rust. An eagerness exists among them that is stronger than last year. The seniors remember the defeats of last year and look forward to an even better season this year. Some of them say it could even be their best season yet.
The women’s lacrosse season has started. The same leaders from last year return with impressive underclassmen talent, and the seniors have high expectations.
The lacrosse team is returning every starter. Four seniors—Kylie Perez, Clarissa Bodjanac, Mischa Mudrak and Clainey Penzenik—lead the group. The seniors have played as teammates since their freshman year, and they all started playing lacrosse around nine years ago.
Perez is a senior who has played Revere lacrosse since her freshman year. She also plays for Maxim, a club team that plays during summer and fall, so lacrosse is a year-round activity for Perez. Perez has also committed to Ashland University for lacrosse. While this is not the end of Perez’s lacrosse journey, she is excited for the upcoming season. Not only is it her senior season, she also has high hopes for the group.
“[We have a lot of] new talent with the freshman,” Perez said.
The seniors spoke about the skill and promise of the underclassmen. All the seniors described the impact their talented underclassmen can have during the season.
Mudrak and Perez are the two seniors supporting the team from defense. Mudrak said her job on defense is made easier by her goalie, Chloe Calogeras.
“She is so fun to be around and she definitely takes the anxiety . . . down a few notches,” Mudrak said.
Mudrak said the team’s closeness helps drive their success. During the season, they will often go out and get food.
“We always just go get Mexican [food at Tres Potrillos]. I’m hoping that we do that again this year. We always say, ‘We’ll do Top Golf or something crazy,’” Mudrak said.
She said they could also go for Pizookies at BJ’s. Their team bonding helps the team get closer off the field, which can drive their success on the field. Mudrak explained how this group of seniors can stand out.
“We’ve all been playing for so long. . . . We’re all close, . . . [we have a] good dynamic,” Mudrak said.
Because of their closeness, Mudrak is excited to see how far the team can make it in the playoffs. Last year they did not end the season as well as they would have liked, but this year they have a lot of underclassmen talent.
“I feel like every year we do a little bit better. . . . This is our last chance,” Mudrak said.
Bodjanac, another senior on the team, talked about the team’s coach, Sean Kobunski. He is also the coach of a club team that Bodjanac plays for sometimes. She said that Kobunski is expecting a baby this season.
“He’s going to be gone for half the season. We’re so sad. We’re going to miss him,” Bodjanac said.
Penzenik, the fourth senior on the team, said that they have the potential to make a deep run in the playoffs. She expressed frustration about last season’s ending but felt the team ended with a solid foundation that could be turned into something big this season. She described how the role model culture on the team can contribute to their goals this season.
“[Leadership means] taking pride in your role, whatever that means for you. Taking leadership in whatever position you’re in is so crucial to the backbone of the team and the performance of the team,” Penzenik said.
Penzenik said she was challenged by adjusting to the sport when she first started playing, and described lacrosse as a combination of other sports. She played soccer growing up and said the switch from soccer defender to lacrosse midfielder was a big one.
Certain players can move in specific places on the field: defenders must stay behind the thirty yard line, forwards must remain in front of the opposite thirty yard line, and midfield can move anywhere. This often means midfielders run a lot.
The seniors said lacrosse is getting bigger in the area. Revere is on the rise with some very talented underclassmen and middle schoolers shaping the program’s future.
“People need to start paying attention to it. . . . [Lax is] on the up, especially here. I hate to say that I’m a senior, because we have so many girls coming out next year,” Penzenik said.
Perez, Bodjanac, Mudrak and Penzenik are excited for what the season brings. Their team dynamic can help them overcome challenges during games and practices, and the talented underclassmen can help the team succeed not only this year but also in the future. The seniors hope to end their high school lacrosse careers with a memorable season.
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