Change has come to the field with the announcement of the new women’s lacrosse coach, Racheal Winkler. Winkler, a recent psychology graduate from Mount St. Joseph University, announces her position as the head coach of the varsity Oak Hills women’s lacrosse team.
Winkler is an Oak Hills alumna who started her lacrosse career nine years ago. During her college career, Winkler played on the Mount’s women’s lacrosse team where she was captain four of the five years. She started her first coaching job at a club team her sophomore year of college and plans to continue as a long term coach at Oak Hills, her old stomping grounds.
When asked what inspired her to be a coach, Winkler responds with, “I think I knew from the moment I started playing that I wanted to be a coach. I was like ‘I love this sport so much that I want to come back and do it’”.
Winkler is described as a positive and uplifting person according to new and returning players. Many love her positive attitude like Adrina Prue, a returning sophomore, describes her as, “Empowering and involved.” According to Winkler, her goals this season are to celebrate the little things. She plans on being a long term coach for the varsity team as long as they will have her.
Although Winkler looks forward to developing players’ skills, enhancing their teamwork and giving back to her community, she said she is most excited for the first game of the season.
“I think I’m just excited for our first game, and I’m just excited to see everyone get out on the field, win or lose.”
During last season Winkler was an assistant coach for Oak Hills and was inspired by previous head coach Olivia Lang, which gave her the opportunity to see a better view of the team.
Big changes have already hit the field with early summer practices, weekly weight lifting
and plans to keep the team bonded this season. Winkler was asked if she had any long term goals for the team and she said, “To top a conference, we can do it, within the next few seasons I think we will become a very competitive program.”
Since the birth of the program, the team has had a losing record, Winkler hopes to end this. When she was asked about how she will maintain excitement in each practice, she said, “I think it’s again keeping a balance of being serious and having fun.” She thinks it’s important to keep the players connected to the coaches by working in small groups or one-on-ones.
Winkler has learned from her past coaches, teammates, and her three years of coaching experience.If she had to share one piece of advice to new players,“ I think that practice makes perfect like everyone says,but it’s not going to happen overnight.” Luckily Winkler and her team are here for the long hall.
