In this episode of the New England Lacrosse Journal's 'Chasing the Goal' podcast, hosts Kyle Devitte and Jack Piatelli welcome returning St. John's Prep head coach John Pynchon. The episode covers Pynchon's coaching journey, the challenges of managing a large and successful lacrosse program, and the cultural values that underpin his team's accomplishments. They delve into the significance of the 2020 Covid season, the impact of star player Jimmy Ayers, and the transitions in high school lacrosse dynamics, including the role of club teams. The discussion also touches on the perceptions and criticisms faced by successful programs and the importance of focusing on the development of students beyond the sport. The episode closes with reflections on the potential for new competitive structures in high school lacrosse.

Topics

01:23 Guest Introduction: John Pynchon

02:00 The Lightning Delay Game

05:39 Jimmy Ayers: A Star Player

10:50 Building a Successful Program

15:06 Challenges and Misconceptions

22:42 Dealing with Criticism

28:26 Addressing Animosity in Coaching

29:33 Complaints and Misconceptions

32:05 Building a Winning Program

34:27 Challenges and Growth

38:45 Proposing a Super Catholic League

43:54 Balancing Club and High School Lacrosse

50:23 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

Host Kyle Devitte is joined by guest Ryan Conwell. They delve into Ryan's lacrosse journey, starting from high school in Liverpool, New York, transitioning to college experiences, and his significant involvement with box lacrosse. The episode highlights the competitive nature of senior men's lacrosse in the NABLL, the inception and evolution of the Nor'easters, and the short-lived yet memorable experience of the PBLA with the Chowder Heads. Conwell also discusses the importance of officiating in lacrosse and shares insights on his involvement with the moon bears in international tournaments like the one in Prague. The episode wraps with Devitt's gratitude towards Conwell for his contributions to the sport and his personal aspirations in lacrosse.

Topics

00:21 Guest Introduction: Ryan Conwell

00:49 High School Lacrosse Memories

01:45 College Lacrosse Journey

02:58 Lacrosse Forums and Online Community

04:05 Ranking Lacrosse Fan Bases

13:21 Transition to Box Lacrosse

19:46 Founding the Nor'easters

24:33 The Core Four Teams

25:09 The NABLL League Structure

25:31 Rebuilding and Tryouts

26:29 The Value of Summer League

30:14 The Moon Bears Journey

33:19 The PBLA Experience

40:46 The Importance of Being a Good Teammate

43:23 Referee Shortage and Challenges

52:01 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Kyle is joined by Owen Hart, coach at Westwood High. Owen shares his journey from learning lacrosse as a high school student to becoming a coach. The duo delves into coaching experiences, emphasizing the differences between coaching varsity and JV, and the importance of teaching fundamentals. They also review and provide insights into the MIAA Division 1 and Division 2 lacrosse brackets, highlighting teams, potential upsets, and key matchups to watch. The episode is filled with personal anecdotes, in-depth analysis, and a light-hearted take on the lacrosse community.

Topics

01:08 Owen Hart's Lacrosse Journey 02:44 Coaching During COVID-19 04:54 Challenges of Coaching High School Lacrosse 12:30 The Role of Video Production in Lacrosse 19:29 JV Coaching Stories 30:31 A Scrimmage Lesson 31:09 Varsity vs JV: Proving Yourself 31:43 Small Things Matter in Lacrosse 32:34 Game of Execution 33:18 Coaching Philosophy and Experience 34:11 D1 Bracket Analysis 35:36 Massachusetts Lacrosse Drama 48:30 Division 2 Bracket Insights 54:11 Concluding Thoughts and Predictions