The Carlsbad Lacrosse team has been around for nine years and in the past couple years, it has become a well-known part of CHS.  The 2013 season kicks off in February and there are high hopes for a great season this year.  Headed by captains senior Addison Sherwood, senior Robert Sweeney and junior Spencer Beyer, this team has the most talent the program has seen thus far.

To prepare for the upcoming season, pre-season conditioning is being held at Poinsettia Park or at the school weight room five days a week until tryouts on Feb. 16. Now practicing before the start of a season is not news to anyone who has played a school-affiliated sport. And more often than not, a coach will hold and oversee these workouts.  But due to time constraints,  lacrosse head coach Tyler Bue has no chance of conducting conditioning, so junior captain Spencer Beyer took it upon himself to run pre-season practice for both JV and varsity lacrosse.

“When I heard our coach did not have time, I thought it would be beneficial for both JV and varsity to become familiar with each other and start working as a team before the season even starts,” Beyer said.

Beyer has been playing lacrosse for over ten years and is very accomplished, earning spots on both Lax West and West Coast Starz, which are both highly regarded teams, formed from the best lacrosse players in San Diego.   And through these accomplishments and knowledge of the game, Beyer has earned respect from his peers.

“There are no set qualifications that I’ve met to coach my teammates,” Beyer said. “Even though I am the youngest of the three captains, they respect me enough as a player and leader to listen to the practices I set up.”

Despite the absence of coaches, the team as a whole is committed to their goal of getting better and is beginning to form a strong bond between one another.

“My teammates give it a hundred percent every time we condition.  They understand that even though it is difficult, they are bettering themselves and as a team, we will become better,” Beyer said. “We take our training seriously, but we try to keep it light since of the absence of actual coaches, so there is always the harmless banter in between exercises.”

Junior Troy Durie, a member of varsity lacrosse has attended every one of the conditioning sessions this winter and looks forward to more to come.

“I feel the workouts are a very positive thing for the team, bringing more energy and discipline then we’ve had in the past,” Durie said. “At the end of the day, my legs are tired and I’m out of breath–all signs of a great workout.”

The boys’ progress can be tracked at Poinsettia Park every week day at 3:30 or come out and watch them at their first home game against Torrey Pines on March 6.