Growing up, I played dozens of sports, but my love is lacrosse. When I read about David Sutton, the first person who came to mind was Coach Jay Foster, my district team lacrosse coach from middle school. He received many awards for his athletics in high school, college, and professionally, but he told me that he preferred coaching and being able to help share his love of lacrosse with others. His coaching style was different from every other coach I’ve ever had for any sport. Instead of focusing on the individual, he taught the game itself. He taught teamwork. He showed us that one person can score a goal, but only because of the hardworking team behind them and that the successes leading up to that goal matter just as much. Before that, I believed that if I didn’t score during a game, then I didn’t play well. With his coaching, I realized that everyone has a job on the field, and helped our team work together instead of us as a group of individuals. Our team, with him as our coach, had unmatched teamwork; we won every tournament we attended. Coach Foster always tried to commend us for doing the little things that greatly help the team, but often go unnoticed. I still remember the times he would bring me Skittles and Starbursts for ground-balls or hard work. I still have the “Lacrosse IQ” awards he gave me; he said I always knew what was going on, weighing the options of what should happen next. He wasn’t just a good coach though, he supported me during some of my toughest times. Two months before the Covid shutdown, I sustained a 9-month concussion while playing lacrosse. Coach Foster proceeded to check in on me to make sure I knew that he was thinking of me and wanted me to recover as fast as possible. He held a spot open for me on the team after I missed spring tryouts due to the injury. He told me that he needed me on his team that year because he said my lacrosse skills were unmatched and helped to lead the team. I knew he was exaggerating, but it still made me feel appreciated. Similar to Mr. Sutton, I have always tried to be the person people could turn to for help on and off the field. Someone who brightens the mood, but provides confidence in those around me in my effort and hard work. I have coached elementary and middle school lacrosse, field hockey, and soccer for a number of years, always bringing a smile to the field. While I personally don’t think I’m funny, the little kids have always loved my sense of humor and my little silly jokes. Their laughs warm my heart, so I think I can relate to Mr. Sutton in that coaching is really a passion. Although my last season with Coach Foster ended prematurely due to both my concussion and then Covid, he left a lasting impact on me and my coaching style through his kindness and teachings.

ella.lyon18

My goal is to become a successful emergency room doctor to care for my future family and parents.