(Photo courtesy of Sydnee Horstman)
Traditions are important for sports and fans, whether it is a simple phrase like NASCAR’s “Gentlemen start your engines” or hats thrown at the hockey rink when a player scores a hat trick, they are essential to enjoy any sport.
While for some, it may be a simple Sunday evening watching soccer with the family, for the St. Ambrose Lacrosse women’s team, it is an MVP “Wumbo” belt for each game to reward those who work the hardest throughout the game, given out by the team captains.
Senior Delaney Austad says the belt is important for the team because, “the captains choose who gets the belt and every game is different, so it’s very inclusive.” Although in her opinion, “It doesn’t help people perform better, it helps us celebrate those who bust their butts during games,” Austad said.
Earning the belt is not something that should be taken lightly as it is a tradition that can impact the team’s chemistry inside and outside the field as someone even gets it after a loss.
For junior Sarah Diehl, this tradition, “Unites the team because we all come together to recognize a player who had a great game. It creates a culture of uplifting and supporting each other.”
(Pictured above Sarah Diehl – Photo courtesy of Sydnee Horstman)
Team chemistry is something often talked about by experts when discussing the best teams of all time, regardless of the sport. We look back at the 85’ Chicago Bears without that many so called superstars, led by Walter Payton who ran for 1,551 yards during that season, or the 2012 Miami Heat led by Lebron James with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh as co-stars, this was a team whose players were all in the same page regarding their play style. Yes, having star players can help you succeed, but good team chemistry is essential for any team to reach their goals.
In a study done by Northwestern University in 2018, they found that team chemistry is linked to the success you have with your teammates. The more times players enjoy winning with others, the better the team will become as a collective.
“It means a lot when someone wins the belt because it is a team recognition that you played a good game, which is always encouraging. I wish we could give the belt to several people each game because it’s a team sport and in every game there are multiple players that play a key role,” said Diehl.
The belt was present after every single game of the lacrosse season which helped the team work hard and create a healthy level of competition, earning the runner-up spot in the Heart Conference Championship where they lost against Benedictine.
(Pictured above Abby Vanderwarren vs. Culver-Stockton Apr. 10 – Photo courtesy of Sydnee Horstman)
The Bees finished the season with a 9-3 overall record and a 4-1 conference record, their only conference losses came against Benedictine. Despite coming in second, during the regular season and the conference tournament, there were many positives for the team as they face the next season with five current freshmen and five current sophomores.
Standout players for next season are Newcomer Player of the Year: Abby Vanderwarren, and top scorers of the 2023-2024 season: Anabelle Brown, Sarah Diehl, and Jayden Ambrose.
(Photo courtesy of Sydnee Horstman)
