Since last season, the Bolles boys lacrosse program has gained six new coaches. The coaches are making many plans they hope to execute during the season.
One new coach is Glenn Mandel, who is the new Bolles goalie coach. Mandel played Division 1 lacrosse at Mercer University and brings great experience and success to the program.
Will Martel ’27, the starting goalie on the team, has a great experience with Mandel’s coaching. “Coach Mandel is always bringing the energy and picking up the team when we aren’t at our best,” he said.
Another new coach is Max Schalit. Schalit played at Ponte Vedra High School and later went on to play at Notre Dame. Schalit was an All-American and won numerous lacrosse-related awards, including the Florida Dairy Farmer’s Mr. Lacrosse award, which he earned after he helped lead Notre Dame to their first NCAA National Championship. He is a defensive coach and brings championship level experience and knowledge to the team.
Defensive player Zipf Pedrick ’27 believes that Schalit has “brought great coaching points and has helped the team grow.”
A third new coach is Freddie Amato. Amato joins the program as an assistant coach. He also played at Ponte Vedra High School and Division 1 lacrosse for LeHigh University. Coach Amato has won many offensive awards and brings new perspectives and strategies to the program.
Coach Fredrick Stucker is now the assistant offensive coach. Stucker has significant coaching experience because he also coached at the college level. In addition to coaching the boys lacrosse team, Stucker also coaches Florida Crabs, a local lacrosse club team. West Jones ‘27 talks about how “he was my Crabs coach over the summer. He’s always been really helpful towards me.”
Cole Daninger is the defensive coordinator for Bolles this year. Daninger played Division 1 college lacrosse at both Rutgers University and Jacksonville University.
The sixth new coach is Cameron Welch, who is the assistant offensive coordinator. Welch has coached club teams that many Bolles athletes play for, such as Bombers Lacrosse. Bombers has a summer and fall league where Welch plays an important role in developing the players and helping them grow as athletes to prepare them for the college level.
The six new coaches each play very important roles in the practices, games, film, and ultimately communication with the players. Whether it is offense or defense, all of the new coaches have helped the players grow and learn as the season progresses.
The team has made four appearances in the final four and one appearance in the state championship. The Bolles lacrosse program has developed a substantial amount and will continue to grow.
