(Chelsea Update would like to thank Stacey Mitchell for providing the information in this story.)
The parents of the Chelsea High School Lacrosse Association would like to honor the seven seniors who never had the chance to play their final season due to Covid 19.
The Chelsea Lacrosse team had a new leader, Matt Greca as the director of the program and varsity coach. Parents, coaches, the lacrosse board, and especially the players, were beyond excited for this season. Although the season was cancelled, the association wants to celebrate the seven seniors who were leaders and had huge goals for this season. They were excited for Greca’s direction that brought new skills, strength, and was a force for team bonding.
The association celebrates the senior players’ love of the game and their strength during this time when their spring senior season should have been filled with celebration for goals scored, team work, and cheering fans consisting of classmates, friends, and family.
The seven seniors are: Ethan Dunahoo, Brad Fischer, Andy Kosowski, Rachel Kozminski, Kyle Mitchell, Shane Nold, and Riley Sumner.
These seven have been playing together for the last three years, and four of them have been playing together since middle school.
Greca had the opportunity to meet and get to know the seniors in the off-season, and said he was very impressed by their excitement and interest to begin pre-season workouts and to learn a new system.
The seniors worked hard during the pre-season by not only improving their lacrosse skills, but also by motivating their fellow teammates to participate in the pre-season. The pre-season work was clearly demonstrated during the week of tryouts and practice as the teams quickly came together until the season was cut short.
It’s disheartening for the seniors of the 2020 CHS Lacrosse team, however, Greca was convinced that this group of seniors would have led the team to an exciting and successful season.
Shane Nold
“I had a good feeling about this season for Chelsea Lax. We had a very talented team including seven seniors. I was also looking forward to making a run with the boys one last time to set a new standard for Chelsea lax. It’s just a shame we won’t get to beat Dexter for Coach Greca,” said Nold.
Nold will be attending Muskegon Community College in the fall to continue his wrestling career. At this time, he is considering a degree in sports medicine.
Kyle Mitchell
Mitchell said, “I never in a million years thought I would be saying this today, but here I am. I thought we were going to have a big year. I thought we were supposed to be better than any other Chelsea Lacrosse team that came before us.”
He continued, “We lost a former teammate Nolan Law. He was the best teammate on the field and a brother off the field. We dedicated this season in his honor. The coaches saw bright things for all of us this year. They were just as excited as we were. But it was all cut short”
Mitchell said, “It’s hard to think that we’ll never get the chance to play on that field again. It’s hard that we’ll never get to show everyone how great we were going to be. Unlike the other seniors, I will get the chance to play again in September with my dream school. I got lucky and get to continue playing in college. “
He said for his teammates, their lacrosse career is potentially over and for that, all the work that I put in next year is for them. I don’t want what this season could’ve been to be forgotten. From now on, I play for all you boys. I also want to thank my friends for all their support and especially my family. They’ve been my #1 since day one. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to find the love for the game. Thank you to all my coaches in the past. All of you helped me to improve and grow both as a person and player. I’ll always remember the experiences on and off the field. Thank you to all who made it great. RIP #NL31”.
Mitchell will be attending Grand Valley State University in the fall. He will be on the GV lacrosse team and is considering a degree in business.
Ethan Dunahoo
“The past four years of varsity lacrosse have been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had,” Dunahoo said, adding, “Playing with the same guys since middle school really brought us together and made lacrosse super fun.”
He said, “Coach Greca is one of the nicest, noble, and most caring people out there. He was going to take the seniors to the State Championship this year. I am sad that lacrosse is over, but I am very excited to see how Coach Greca turns the program around and into one of the most elite programs in Michigan.
Dunahoo will be joining the local 252 Electric Union this fall and said he will be looking forward to watching the team for years to come. “Rest in peace to the best goalie and teammate I could’ve asked for – Nolan Law #NL31forever,” he said.
Rachel Kozminski
“These guys have become my family and missing this last season is going to be really tough for me. The three years I’ve spent with these guys have changed my life,” she said.
Kozminski will be attending Eastern Michigan University in the fall as a junior after participating in the ECA program. She plans to enter the nursing program.
Brad Fischer
Fischer said he “was looking forward to the upcoming season as new change was surrounding Chelsea lacrosse. I thought the program, even though only having a short time with it, had already jumped leaps and bounds from where it was in prior years.”
He said the coaching staff lead by Coach Greca gave him much to be hopeful for in the season and he was looking forward to winning SECs. “The talent this year was shown even in the first week of practice as kids had been taking the time in the off season to put in the work as encouraged by Coach Greca,” he said.
Fisher said he was very sad that this year ended the way it did, but he’s hopeful that next year’s senior class will carry on a new era of Chelsea lacrosse.
Fischer plans to attend Washtenaw Community College to begin working on a degree in social work.
Riley Sumner
Sumner will be attending Western Michigan University in the fall and has been accepted into the aviation program.
Andy Kosowski
The association was unable to reach Kosowski, but wish him all the best for his future endeavors.
The Chelsea Lacrosse Board and coaches are proud of these seven, as individuals and players. They leave behind a growing program that will continue to promote their drive and commitment to lacrosse.
