(Saturday, August 3 - Maki Jenner)
The U20 World Lacrosse Championship is just 12 days away from the opening face-off in Hong Kong, China. After a 10th-place finish in the 2019 World Cup (formerly U19), the Haudenosaunee Nationals are more determined than ever to vie for gold in this year's competition.
Following a rigorous selection process, the 22-woman roster was announced in March, and the team has just wrapped up their final training camp ahead of the competition. Head coach Will Mraz feels that after the camp, everyone is on the same page and ready to compete in a few short weeks.
“These girls went through almost a year and a half of tryouts, which can be so intense,” Mraz said. “After this last training camp, we just feel like such a complete team. Everyone has a solid idea of who we are. We’ve all bought into the one-heart, one-mind attitude towards our game, which will ultimately help us reach our goals.”
The U20 division comprises high school stars, along with girls who have already had some collegiate and world-stage experience. Mraz, along with the rest of his staff, has selected a combination of players who they know will bring a range of skills, talent, and experience at this level.
“What it came down to for me specifically when selecting this team was raw athleticism and creative lacrosse IQ,” Mraz said. “There is so much speed, strength, and talent, but I really wanted girls who were able to think about what’s next and not just react to the moment. Girls with the ability to see that we have a set play but recognize there are two or three opportunities that can come from that, as opposed to just the first look.”
Alongside Mraz, Asa Goldstock, Julie Duffy, and Jalyn Jimerson were announced as assistant coaches. All three come with extensive lacrosse backgrounds and played a significant role in selecting this roster.
“For me, going into training camp, I knew all of these girls were so talented, but my biggest concern was what sort of teammate they were,” Jimerson said. “This is such a long tournament, and a long trip there and back. When you’re in this type of environment, it’s important to have good teammates who will uplift you and create that chemistry off the field.”
Jimerson has been part of the Nationals program since her first World Cup in 2017, but this will be her first time coaching on the world stage. With multiple World Cups under her belt, Jimerson brings not only competitive experience but also the ability to prepare the girls for the mental aspect of the game and help them take it all in.
“World Championships are intense. I really want to emphasize to these girls what a big deal this really is for them,” Jimerson said. “Representing the Nationals is such a huge honor, and it didn’t really hit me until more recently how special it truly is. If I can help remind these girls to be where their feet are and enjoy this game we’ve played for so long, I think that’s where a lot of our success will come from.”
Jimerson also brings a unique perspective to this group, having played alongside some of the girls and now helping prepare the next generation that she will play with in the future.
“This group of girls is the best team this program has had,” Jimerson said. “It’s the type of team you get excited about watching play the game. It’s taken a long time for us to get to this point, but watching this next generation is so exciting, and it also motivates me to want to get better as a player. Our pool of talent has become incredible, and I know it will only continue to grow.”
There is no shortage of talent on this team. Coach Mraz has high expectations for the group but knows they will all be able to contribute as one unit. A few players bring an exceptional amount of talent, experience, and leadership abilities that the team will lean on throughout the tournament.
The team announced that Paisley Cook, Kimaura Schindler, and Kaya Maracle will be leading as the team captains for this year’s World Championships. Cook, a freshman at the University of Albany, comes in with three world events under her belt and will be a key factor for this group.
“Paisley Cook is so calm, cool, and collected, which is critical in these sorts of environments,” Mraz said. “She is also stellar on the draw and just floats on the field. She is a very talented midfielder we will be leaning on a lot.”
Another star to watch out for is Wynter Jock. Jock is currently recovering from an ACL injury, but her coaching staff has no doubts that she is ready for this opportunity.
“Wynter may be coming off an injury, but she has not skipped a beat,” Jimerson said. “She is so fun to watch. She’s so fluid on offense, and with the ball, it feels like a lacrosse stick was made for her.”
For Wynter, being able to represent the Nationals is a dream come true.
“To be able to rep the Haudenosaunee Nationals jersey on the world stage is an honor that fills me with such immense pride and joy. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to travel internationally and make new memories with my team while we play and grow together as individuals through the sport that brought us together.”
“To go out there and show the world who we are is what drives me to continue putting in the work everyday and be the best that I can possibly be, both on and off the field, said Jock. “I am very lucky to have one year of college lacrosse under my belt so I hope to translate all that I have learned from my wonderful teammates and coaches from school to the Nationals team.”
On the defensive end, the other two captains, Schindler and Maracle, are coming off seasons at Xavier University and Queens University, respectively. The two are solid defenders who will look to push the pace in transition, which is exactly the type of game this coaching staff is instilling for this group.
“We are looking to be a very fast and dynamic team that pushes in transition, and we have the athletes to do that,” Mraz said. “We want to give ourselves fast break opportunities for advantages as often as we can.”
All the pieces are in place with the goal of reaching new heights for this Haudenosaunee program. With the tournament being held in Asia for the first time, this group also feels the responsibility to display the Creator’s Game in the best possible way.
“This game is a Haudenosaunee game, and bringing it to a new continent is exciting,” Mraz said. “We know we will be shouldering the idea that this is what the game is about and how it should be played, but overall, it’s just incredible to share this game around the world.”
The squad kicks off their campaign on Friday, August 16th, as they take on Korea. The team will play four round-robin games before placement games begin on the 21st. It will be a long tournament for these girls, but with the right mindset, they know anything is possible.
“We have this saying, ‘Together as one,’ and that is ultimately the biggest thing we have,” Jimerson said. “It’s a long journey, but when you have the mentality that we are together as one unit, whether on or off the field, that’s when the good things will come.”
