Instead of representing just one school, the girls lacrosse team brings together players from three. With junior varsity and varsity teams, nearly 40 girls play. Nova Classical Academy and St. Agnes School come to the St. Paul Academy and Summit School fields to practice with the team.
Because the team is made up of multiple schools, building a connection is especially important early in the season. Players come in with different experiences and playing styles, so practices often emphasize communication and teamwork. Getting to know one another on and off the field helps the team develop trust, which shows during games.
The team captains from SPA, senior Dia Chaney and junior Audrey Peltier, make practices fun for their team while still encouraging their teammates to work hard.
Chaney has been a key leader on the team. Her senior season will be her second year as a captain. She’s also helped build team bonds through ‘sister groups’. “We have sister groups, so we’ll make competitive drills, and then in sister groups. So it’s just four to five people from the team in one little group, and then there are six groups this year, and we just compete within those teams. At the end of the year, whichever sister group has the most points wins.” Chaney said.
Chaney, who has been playing lacrosse since eighth grade, said some of her favorite moments come from both games and team bonding.
“When we play the Ducks,” the St. Paul Two-Rivers co-op team, “it’s always a really close game, so that game is fun,” she said. “And I like the team dinners too.”
Practices are typically run by the coaching staff, with captains serving as support. “Most of the time we’re with JV, and then the coaches basically run them,” Chaney said. “But sometimes we’ll split up on separate sides.”
This year, Solvig Emery, a new student coming from Mahtomedi Middle School, joined the team. Mahtomedi was a public school with a lacrosse team. “The transition was good, like everyone made me feel welcome and everything,” Emery said. “Tryouts were also fun. It had good energy.”
As a co-op team, scheduling can be a challenge. With each school ending at different times, practices are pushed later in the day. “We can’t really have practice at like 3 p.m. or 3:15 p.m., because Nova would be skipping school,” Chaney said.
Coordinating transportation and balancing homework with later practices can also be difficult for players. Many athletes have to manage busy schedules, but they continue to prioritize both academics and their commitment to the team.
Despite these challenges, she sees the co-op as a positive experience. “It’s kind of fun to get to know kids from different schools,” she said. “They’re definitely a good addition to the team.”
Even with different schedules, the team continues to grow closer each season. The Spartan girls lacrosse team shows that teamwork isn’t about where you come from; it’s about how you come together.
