For seniors who have played varsity lacrosse all four years at Tamalpais High School, the program looks very different today than it did when they first joined their freshman year. In the 2021 season, Tam’s lacrosse team reached its full potential, highlighted by historic wins in the Marin County Athletic League and the North Coast Section, along with strong rosters filled with extremely competitive players. The historic season set a new standard for the entire program and showed younger players how it is possible when commitment and experience came together. But after the championships, many of the key seniors graduated, and several longtime staff members stepped down as well. This disrupted both lacrosse teams and marked the start of a rebuilding process. Since then, Tam has faced many changes, from leadership transitions to roster shifts and evolving team expectations. Players say that those transitions have reshaped team culture, competitiveness and expectations. “Each year we’ve had different coaching staff come in, which has been a big change of the program,” senior Lexi Watts said. “Some changes have been good, some bad. But the girls who come back every year keep our team dynamic strong.” Her twin brother, Trevor Watts, said the same has been true on the boys side. “The coaching staff is now 100 percent different than when I was a freshman,” he said. “They’re more intense, but it’s led to better results and more enjoyment for players who are committed,” he said. Trevor also noted how the program has grown. “We’ve moved up to Division 1, and the number of players has gone up each year. We’ve never won MCALs before, but this season we’ll most likely win,” he said. He also mentioned small rule changes, such as new chest protectors that had to be worn after his freshman year, which reflects on how the sport has evolved even in just four years. For the current seniors, the most challenging part has been to balance tradition with progress. Without the 2021 players, the upcoming captains for both lacrosse teams face the challenge of stepping into bigger roles. This means motivating the underclassmen, teaching basic skills, and keeping morale high when results don’t always align with the past ones. “It has been about creating consistency and motivation,” Lexi said. “Even if the wins aren’t always present, the bond between the players is what makes playing lacrosse worth it for me.” Despite the ups and downs, both Lexi and Trevor agree that the foundation of Tam lacrosse comes from the athletes themselves, not just from the coach leading them. Seniors view their roles as passing down lessons and believe that they have to set new standards in order to obtain similar results as the past years. Also, they are extremely motivated to prepare the next generations of players to come at Tam, to continue to create a competitive program. The story of Tam lacrosse is still being shaped, but its current leaders believe the values of teamwork and commitment will carry the program further and further.