Cheshire Lacrosse has a storied history and high hopes for the future
If you were going to start a private school lacrosse program in 1962, you’d be hard pressed to find a better coach than Cheshire Academy’s choice for their fledgling team: Stewart Lindsay.
A three-time All-American selection at Syracuse University in the 1950s, he was also a North/South All-Star in 1956. Inducted into the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1976, he held the scoring records for most goals in a game, a season, and a career at Syracuse – and Phillips Exeter Academy, and Connecticut Valley Lacrosse Club. At Exeter, in fact, his 100-career goal record would not be surpassed for 35 years.
Lindsay loved lacrosse – and so do Husam Shabazz and Kelsey Darcy ’19, the current head coaches of Cheshire’s Boys’ and Girls’ varsity teams, respectively. This dynamic duo believes the sport – first played by indigenous peoples in North America as far back as the 12th century – has a bright future at Cheshire Academy, one of which Lindsay would be proud. Savvy recruiting, major facilities improvements, and burgeoning interest in the fast-paced game have combined to build a growing lacrosse force has taken hold on campus.
“We feel like we have all the ingredients to have successful lacrosse programs — great facilities, a strength and conditioning program, passionate coaches, we play good competition, and really strong academic programs,” said Director of Athletics Jim McCarthy.
The sports popularity is a plus, too, said Darcy, admission administrative assistant.
“They say it is currently the fastest-growing sport in America. We’re seeing a major uptick in kids from all around the world who want to play lacrosse at Cheshire.”
For Shabazz, assistant director of admissions, who has coached the sport for nine years, it’s easy to see why.
“New England is one of many hotbeds of the sport,” he said. “As a kid I played everything from street hockey to basketball, football, tennis – even bocce – and I loved lacrosse because it’s a combination of all of those sports.
“And the diversity is growing in the game, which is good to see,” added Shabazz, the first person of color to coach CA’s boys’ squad.
Shabazz coaches the Cheshire Academy Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse team on Simosa Field
Cheshire Academy is ready to build on that excitement. In 2011, CA added Simosa Field, a state-of-the-art turf field where both boys and girls play many of their games. Lighting allows for night games, where fans can cheer from an ample bank of bleachers. Located on the back fields, a second turf field provides both game and practice space for varsity and JV teams. Cheshire’s full-time strength and conditioning coach and two board-certified athletic trainers attend to both teams, providing game-time support, injury evaluations and rehabilitation, concussion management, nutritional advice, and supervised fitness training from weightlifting to yoga.
“Cheshire Academy has supported Girls’ Lacrosse especially with the additional back field, as well as the new Simosa Field, because it allows all the lacrosse athletes – and athletes in general – more space to be able to practice during the free period and after school,” said Darcy, who played at both CA and Springfield College. “It’s been really great. I love looking out in my office and seeing kids getting extra reps in and just making sure that the nets are out all year.”
The Cats have become formidable opponents in the New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC), with many talented players gaining college coaches’ attention. Girls’ Lacrosse averages three college commitments each year, including schools NCAA top-ranked Long Island University, Longwood University, and Mount Saint Mary College.
“We send kids to various places and to various divisions,” Darcy said. “It’s the best thing ever, especially as a coach. You see all the hard work that they do.”
The Academy’s Boys’ Lacrosse program also has a strong tradition in the WNEPSAC. The Cats play a competitive schedule that includes intensive spring break training on campus. Shabazz coached standout Bryce Hrubiec ’24, now playing for Fairfield University, and CA has sent former team members to NCAA top-ranked Wagner College and Monmouth University, and Middlebury College and Wesleyan University, both in the top 5 of 2024 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) standings.
“Our teams have been competitive,” Shabazz said. “We’re playing NEPSAC schools all the way from Brunswick to Millbrook to Wilbraham and Monson…. multiple teams that have sent kids to Division I and Division II schools.”
Shabazz also applauded CA’s intentional efforts and partnerships with private and independent schools and organizations that focus on youth development and recruiting, leveling the playing field in what can be an expensive sport for youngsters. “We’re not only recruiting strong talent, but also mission-appropriate players, mission-appropriate students who plan to impact our community on the field and beyond,” he said.
“There’s a lot of responsibility, but also a lot of excitement to building relationships with players of color, not only from teaching this game at a high level, but also from understanding the experiences that they navigate as black and brown individuals.”
That kind of access – a focus for coaches and leaders across the sport – will cement lacrosse as an option for students of all backgrounds, he said. “Being a coach that understands that struggle, that understands what that experience can be, giving some guidance on how to navigate that or even trying to eliminate that whole perception in its entirety is important to me,” Shabazz said.
“There’s a lot of responsibility, but also a lot of excitement to building relationships with players of color, not only from teaching this game at a high level, but also from understanding the experiences that they navigate as black and brown individuals.”
Cheshire Academy’s well-considered scheduling also helps students achieve school-sport balance. Wednesday afternoons are reserved for after-school activities at Cheshire, said Darcy, who is also an advisor and dorm parent. The dedicated time allows students to truly delve into their outside-the-classroom passions, be they sports, music, theatre, or other group and individual pursuits.
Shabazz and Darcy hope those dreams include lacrosse victories for CA and, more importantly, a deep love of the game.
“You’re on the field, you’re running, you’re catching, you’re throwing, you get to shoot, you get to play defense. You get to test your speed, you get to test your power,” Darcy said. “And, at least as a female athlete, being able to put all those things together and be able to play and show what we can do? It’s one of the best feelings ever.”
“Cheshire Academy has supported Girls’ Lacrosse especially with the additional back field, as well as the new Simosa Field, because it allows all the lacrosse athletes – and athletes in general – more space to be able to practice during the free period and after school,” said Darcy, who played at both CA and Springfield College. “It’s been really great. I love looking out in my office and seeing kids getting extra reps in and just making sure that the nets are out all year.”
The Cats have become formidable opponents in the New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC), with many talented players gaining college coaches’ attention. Girls’ Lacrosse averages three college commitments each year, including schools NCAA top-ranked Long Island University, Longwood University, and Mount Saint Mary College.
“We send kids to various places and to various divisions,” Darcy said. “It’s the best thing ever, especially as a coach. You see all the hard work that they do.”
