Beginning in September and October last year, the Redwood lacrosse program began a push towards connecting alumni back to the school, hoping to ensure the continuity and legacy of the program. In the past, nothing has linked graduates to the lacrosse program, and there’s been no way for these alumni to give back. Now, class of 2017 Redwood graduate Jack Elders has planted the seeds of an alumni network by emailing past students and collecting feedback on the extent to which alumni would like to get involved.
The lacrosse alumni network now allows graduates to help fundraise for the current program, work as assistant coaches and grow the program’s interconnectedness. It can even extend beyond helping students at Redwood.
“[The network can be] a resource for guys who graduate and are looking for jobs or want advice. Just having people you can always reach out to that share the same kind of redwood lacrosse experience,” Elders said.
Another goal for the network is to give current players a broader view of their sport than their current high school experience.
“Culture continuity is probably the biggest thing for me. There are thousands of players that have come before you, worn the same jersey, worn the same number [and] lived kind of the same life as you. Some have done it in a great way, so [I want] to continue those traditions as much as possible,” Elders said.
Multiple alumni players have stepped in to coach the lacrosse teams as a result of the network. Class of 2022 graduate Lucas Ross returned to be an assistant coach for this year’s varsity team to support the current players and give back to the program that meant so much to him in high school.
“I’m only three years older than the oldest kids on the team, so I want to be able to relate to them as a younger person but also have a little more maturity and experience,” Ross said.
Zach Thoma, co-head coach of junior varsity lacrosse and 2019 graduate, wants to use his influence as a coach to run good practices and games, ensure his players’ success on and off the field and emphasize the importance of having fun.
“It’s great to be around the program again. Most of the coaches have stayed the same throughout, so I think the overall brotherhood of the program is amazing. It’s always fun to come help out, even if it’s [just] two hours at night,” Thoma said.
The other co-head coach of junior varsity, 2010 graduate Adam Rosenthal, seeks to create a community where the kids care about each other and feel supported.
“I think mentorship and guidance for young men in particular right now is really important. I think especially in Marin, there’s so much pressure and expectations on people, whether academically, athletically, socially or family-related stuff,” Rosenthal said. “I think that having adults who know what it’s like to be in that world and who have navigated the ups and the downs to support the kids and make sure they feel cared for [is essential].”
The alumni game is the final way the network interweaves current and past players. As of last December, it was officially dedicated to the class of 2011 Redwood lacrosse player Ben Rosenthal, who passed away five years ago. Going forward, the lacrosse program will hold this annual “Ben Rosenthal Memorial Alumni game.” The game will forevermore celebrate his life and honor his impact at Redwood. In December, this first game drew alumni dating back to 2013 into a match against the current high school players.
The alumni network will continue to honor those who have come to Redwood before and give back to the current players by bridging the distance of time and connecting the community under the foundation of lacrosse.
