Spring Break
Lacrosse star ends up and down career
Max Jabbonsky
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Sports
For many, much of the allure of our beloved University of Connecticut is derived from its reputation as a "jock school."
On a daily basis, students gawk at 300-pound lineman and try to get pictures taken with future NBA Lottery picks. But chances are that, unless you have a relative on a team or write for The Daily Campus, you have never seen the majority of UConn's athletes play. That means that when the women's lacrosse team's season came to a close last week, it did so without a blink from the student body.
The fact that every UConn team should be supported by its thousands of students notwithstanding, the real crime here is that, during the past four years, UConn fans have ignored one of its most consistent athletes: Whitney Michele.
The Huskies' midfielder is not physically imposing and, unless she happens to be wearing a pair team-issued sweatpants, her modesty masks any public knowledge of her status as the most underrated athlete in Storrs - something that her teammates are eager to change.
"Her work ethic and heart make everyone want to try harder," said junior Lauren Sparks, one of Michele's co-captains. "She is a great teammate and her leadership has definitely left a mark on UConn lacrosse."
Through what was a chaotic four years for the team, Michele was the one constant. The program went through three coaching changes, but she started every single game during her career and established herself as the team's best all-around player. Despite her disappointment in being unable to form a strong relationship with a single coach over the years, Michele said that the revolving door of coaches taught her how to be a leader and to handle adversity - traits that were improved exponentially during this past season under head coach Angela McMahon.
"No one has had a more positive influence on me than [McMahon]. She took over a team in a difficult situation and instilled expectations of: conditioning, discipline, dedication" Michele said. "To work hard and never give up."
On a daily basis, students gawk at 300-pound lineman and try to get pictures taken with future NBA Lottery picks. But chances are that, unless you have a relative on a team or write for The Daily Campus, you have never seen the majority of UConn's athletes play. That means that when the women's lacrosse team's season came to a close last week, it did so without a blink from the student body.
The fact that every UConn team should be supported by its thousands of students notwithstanding, the real crime here is that, during the past four years, UConn fans have ignored one of its most consistent athletes: Whitney Michele.
The Huskies' midfielder is not physically imposing and, unless she happens to be wearing a pair team-issued sweatpants, her modesty masks any public knowledge of her status as the most underrated athlete in Storrs - something that her teammates are eager to change.
"Her work ethic and heart make everyone want to try harder," said junior Lauren Sparks, one of Michele's co-captains. "She is a great teammate and her leadership has definitely left a mark on UConn lacrosse."
Through what was a chaotic four years for the team, Michele was the one constant. The program went through three coaching changes, but she started every single game during her career and established herself as the team's best all-around player. Despite her disappointment in being unable to form a strong relationship with a single coach over the years, Michele said that the revolving door of coaches taught her how to be a leader and to handle adversity - traits that were improved exponentially during this past season under head coach Angela McMahon.
"No one has had a more positive influence on me than [McMahon]. She took over a team in a difficult situation and instilled expectations of: conditioning, discipline, dedication" Michele said. "To work hard and never give up."
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