By Donald Turnbaugh
and apply it to their futures. The graduating seniors will be able to use their new leadership styles in the workplace—Leonard has secured a job at a law firm, while Mitchell will work for a consulting firm in Chicago. For Dunlap and Byner, the experience they have earned this season will be invaluable as they anchor the Commodore defense for next three years. “Claire and Catherine have been a huge part of our defense this year, and I don’t think we could have succeeded without them,” Dunlap said. “With Brandi and I coming in as new members of the team, having leadership from those seniors has helped us greatly. They are knowledgeable and know the ins and outs of the game and have been able to pass that information on to us.” n
Mitchell has accepted a position with a consulting firm in Chicago.
JOHN RUSSELL
DOUG CAHILL
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eading into the 2011 season, the Vanderbilt women’s lacrosse team looked to have an abundance of senior leadership on the field. When team captains Claire Leonard and Catherine Mitchell both were sidelined by injury before the season got under way, the Commodore starting lineup lost a pair of veteran leaders. That turn of events could have been devastating for the program. But the two student-athletes had learned during their careers to put the team first, and both discovered ways for their leadership to shine through when they were unable to contribute to on-field production. “I have had a mantra all season long, and I’ve made sure to keep with it,” Leonard said. “Whatever I can give to this team, I want to give. If it’s working hard in practice, then that’s what I’ll do. If it’s teaching the younger players from the sidelines, then so be it. Whatever I have to do to help this team win, I will do it.” Leonard started 35 games in her first three seasons at Vanderbilt. While Leonard would have liked to help teach the team through her play, the Mary“After the injury I decided to just rehab and put a brace on it land native has been dealing with an injury for two years. During so I could get back on the field,” Mitchell said. “I went through preseason training, it got worse and sidelined the defender. Leonard the motions quickly and was rehabbing every moment I could. I suffers from plantar fasciitis—a painful inflammatory process that was up at seven to go to rehab. I would go to class, then rehab, causes tendinitis in the foot, with most of the pain in the heel—in followed by practice and rehab. I was working on my knee for both of her feet. The injury began her sophomore year and has been three to six hours per day just trying to build muscle to get back lingering ever since. Leonard explains that the only way for it to heal out there.” is through rest and staying away from lacrosse activities. After all of the rehab and rest she tried getting back on the In late January, her left fascia ruptured, and she was forced to miss field, but her knee was still not responding. Mitchell made the the first few weeks of the season. When her left foot healed and she difficult decision to undergo surgery to avoid further injury and got back on the field, her right plantar fascia endured a tear. After had the procedure done in March. The timeframe of recovery for another three weeks of rest, she reinjured the right fascia on her first such an injury is months, and Mitchell will be at school rehabbing day back. She had been out the majority of the year before making until June. her first appearance on April 17 against Florida. These injuries left a gaping hole in the Vanderbilt defense, and Catherine Mitchell’s injury was not something that could have the coaches needed to find two players who could step in and been foreseen. It was a devastating moment, one quick move- defend top-tier athletes from Stanford, Johns Hopkins and the ment. During practice a few weeks before the season began, Ohio State University. Insert freshmen Alyssa Dunlap and Brandi Mitchell was participating in a drill. Her leg went one way and Byner. It may seem unprecedented to go from two experienced her knee went another, tearing her ACL, fracturing her knee in seniors to two women who have only been on campus for a few two places and pulling her shin muscle. Despite the injury, Mitch- months, but Dunlap and Byner had the skill set and hunger to ell’s main goal was to get better immediately to help anchor the learn more about the game from the seasoned veterans. defense. While Mitchell and Leonard could not be on the field to help
guide the newcomers, they took it upon themselves to act as mentors in practice and during games. The original plan was for both seniors to show the underclassmen what to do and how to react, but after the injuries they have had to help the freshmen through verbal teaching. “Because I wasn’t able to lead through my play, I spent a lot of time teaching the younger girls,” Leonard said. “I got the opportunity to know Brandi and Alyssa a lot better as players and people. I’ve been able to work with them a lot and pass on my knowledge.” Leonard’s goal is to break down game-like situations and teach the freshmen how to adapt to those circumstances when game time begins. She wants to make sure that the girls know what to do before any event arises and is emphasizing that they use their speed, quickness and body position to be successful. Mitchell’s leadership qualities came through her actions and what she could show younger players, while she now has had to learn a completely new way to get her message across. She says it has been a challenge being on the sideline but that this year has been a great learning experience. And with her new knowledge, Mitchell has been able to contribute to the team’s success by correcting mistakes that are made in practice. The two seniors have not only contributed individually, but have worked well as a duo to help Dunlap and Byner. “Brandi and Alyssa—and all of the freshmen—look up to us as seniors,” said Mitchell. “I think that the whole group is eager to learn, and it’s been great for Claire and I. We both want to help the team any way we can, so we’ve taken the necessary roles this year.” Their leadership has paid off, and Byner and Dunlap have been a solid foundation for the defense. In the regular season, Dunlap was second on the team with 32 ground balls, and the freshmen pair combined to force 20 turnovers. Dunlap also was named the American Lacrosse Conference Freshman of the Week for her play in Vanderbilt’s 15-10 upset victory over Stanford on March 27. While the freshmen have had success this season, they still have plenty to learn from their peers. All four ladies will be able to take what they learned this year
DOUG CAHILL
Lacrosse seniors learn new leadership
The 2011 graduating class was honored on Wednesday, April 20, before Vanderbilt’s overtime victory over Notre Dame.
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