By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/6/09
The Baldwin School girls’ lacrosse team earned a key 19-14 victory over previously-undefeated Notre Dame last week in its Inter-Ac League opener and is now 2-0 to start the season.
But the Bears – the Phillylacrosse.com/Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival Scholastic Female Team of the Week – have been doing much more than gearing for a successful lacrosse season.
Baldwin also is dedicated to helping others off the field. All 34 members of the varsity and JV program volunteer for different organizations throughout the year.
“Volunteering is not mandatory at Baldwin because it doesn’t have to be,” said Bears coach Kathleen Harte Simone. “They all volunteer. It’s part of the essence of a Baldwin girl.”
Baldwin’s lacrosse players volunteer in a variety of ways. Here is a sampling:
*Senior co-captain Ali Pedersen, volunteers with the Berwyn Volunteer Ambulance and is pursuing EMT certification.
*Sophomore Akela Lacy is a volunteer coach for the Dashers Running Club in Lower Merion. She and seven of her teammates (senior, co-captain Maggie Mae Shields; senior Arielle Kahn; junior Charlotte Damico; sophomores Kristen Feinberg, Hilary Gray, Sloan Warren and Jennie Wigrizer) also volunteer for Bryn Mawr Tutoring every week, assisting inter-city children with homework and study skills.
*Senior Angela Farren volunteers on weekends at a Chester soup kitchen.
*Sophomore Brooke Simone plays the violin for residents of Golden Living Retirement Center in Rosemont and also volunteers with teammates Alice Matthai (junior) and Tiffany Hau (freshman, JV) at Overbrook School for the Blind.
*Arden Simone (8th grade, varsity) works one-on-one with a reading buddy at the Upper Merion Library.
*Junior Eileen Kenny (JV) volunteers at her church school and freshman Jessica Gubanich (JV) volunteer by coaching karate.
“I’m really proud of these girls,” Simone said. “Everyday at practice, I acknowledge players’ stellar performance off the field, whether it is being elected as a class officer or achieving academic success in some way.
“These skills will carry them through life. Lacrosse, really, is a way to have fun and to build on teamwork, dedication, and hard work, which are life-long skills,” added Simone. “This is a very special team and I anticipate a winning season. Regardless, they are all winners on and off the field.”
To nominate a squad for the Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival Scholastic Female Team of the Week, e-mail us at golax@phillylacrosse.com
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