This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
05/10/2018 12:00 AMCourtney Babbidge is one of many North Haven athletes who grew to love lacrosse as a result of competing in the town’s feeder program. With a strong family background in the sport, Courtney started playing when she was in 4th grade, and so she brought a lot of experience to the high-school squad. Now, Courtney is a senior captain for the Indians, who are in the midst of another fine campaign and recently qualified for the Class M State Tournament.
“I’m one of three. I have an older brother and older sister that played lacrosse, so we always played together,” says Courtney. “It’s always helpful out of season having people at home that know and understand the game.”
Head Coach Lois Frankforter loves the energy that Courtney brings to all ends of the field for North Haven. Frankforter adds that Courtney does a great job of maintaining her composure in the most critical situations, and she knows that instills confidence in the rest of the squad.
“She now plays attack wing, so she’s playing the full field. That’s demonstrated her leadership within the team. She’s always been a stronger player at the core, but she has a quiet confidence that brings out the best in her teammates,” Frankforter says. “She’s very cool under fire in situations on the field, and that positive effect brings out the best in her fellow teammates. She works hard on every part of her game in practice and inspires the others to do that, as well.”
Courtney is constantly on the go while playing the attack wing position. She likes making an all-around impact by contributing on both offense and defense, and also emphasizes the importance of chemistry among the Indians.
“On the field, communication is important. Lacrosse is not a one-man show, so you need to utilize every player on the field to be successful. You need to have faith that your teammates will do their job. The more you talk, the better you’ll start to mesh together,” Courtney says. “Lacrosse is a physical game, but at the same time, I think it’s more about learning to control your emotions. I think that’s really a big part of it.”
Courtney isn’t exactly an in-your-face type of captain. Courtney says that she and fellow senior captain Kylie Brandt complement each other well with the way they go about leading the team.
“My co-captain is one of my best friends, which I’m very thankful for, because we work so well together. She’s very competitive and focuses on getting everybody ready to go. My job is more to keep everybody in check and make sure they’re not getting in their own heads,” says Courtney. “Really, lacrosse is a mental game. I like finding a way to get girls to take anger and turn it positive on the field.”
Courtney was also a captain for the North Haven volleyball squad last fall. Courtney feels that experience helped her develop the skills she needed to be an effective leader with the lacrosse team this spring.
“That definitely helped, because coming into any leadership position can be intimidating. Once you get into it, you find your own voice, and you’re capable of a lot more,” Courtney says. “It’s all about learning from your experiences. Still, I’m not a perfect captain, but it’s easier the second time around.”
The Indians are gearing up to compete in the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Courtney loves that she’s helping North Haven build its lacrosse tradition, and she believes the program is on the cusp of greatness.
“I think it’s awesome. We always surprise ourselves in the end and play much better than we think we’re capable of. That comes with playing higher competition and being the best we can be,” says Courtney. “The girls of the future will only get stronger.”