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05/18/2022 12:00 AMA switch to the outdoors was all it took for Leah Frantz to fall in love with lacrosse. Leah’s leaving it all on the field in her final year with the Valley Regional girls’ lacrosse team, and the senior attacker is making big difference for the Warriors during their historic season.
Leah’s introduction to sports began at Flip-Flop Gymnastics in Deep River, where she participated in competitive gymnastics for 10 years. She was extremely passionate about gymnastics and still is to this day. However, an injury prior to high school made Leah reconsider her future. Leah opted to leave the sport she had grown up with, but quickly got herself involved with the girls’ lacrosse team at Valley Regional.
“I had been doing gymnastics my whole life, but I got injured in 8th grade, and I kind of thought I wouldn’t be able to finish out high school with gymnastics,” says Leah. “So, I decided to try something new.”
The transition from gymnastics to lacrosse was pretty smooth for Leah. There were a few challenges along the way, but Leah received some helpful guidance from her brother. Leah’s older brother Soren has played lacrosse since a young age, and his involvement made the switch that much easier for her.
“I’ve been watching lacrosse my whole life because my brother played, so that’s definitely what got me into it,” Leah says. “I’ve been going to his games and tournaments since I was four, so I knew a lot about the sport. It definitely inspired me to try it.”
Leah began playing lacrosse during her freshman year. In the ensuing years, Leah has made great growth on the field while overcoming the obstacles presented to her with switching sports. Leah has improved season after season and is now providing a strong presence on offense in her senior campaign. Leah is one of eight seniors on Valley’s roster, and Head Coach Randy Netsch says that she serves as a pillar of leadership both on and off the field.
“She’s really good with the other players. She’s fun for everyone else to be around,” says Netsch. “Ever since Leah was a freshman, she’s gotten better and better, and now she’s just a key component of the offense.”
Leah and her teammates have piloted the Warriors to significant improvement in the 2022 season. After winning four games last year, Valley is dominating as one of the best teams in the Shoreline Conference with a record of 13-0 thus far. Leah is making noticeable contributions in the scoring column for Valley. Leah’s performances have been strengthened by the bonds that she shares with her teammates, and they’re all reaching their peak on the field this season.
“Overall, it’s very fun to be a part of the team. We have a really good bond this year, which is important on and off the field,” Leah says. “We can tell on the field that we have a good connection.”
Leah plays an integral role as one of the many links who connect a strong Valley squad. The senior’s impact goes beyond the stats. Leah is not only a leader on the field, but a player who makes smart decisions and fosters a positive atmosphere for the Warriors.
“I bring a good, positive attitude to the team,” says Leah. “Even if we mess something up or have a turnover, when we get the ball back, I make sure to stay positive and smart.”
Leah has excelled at making connections while introducing herself to a new group of people on the lacrosse team. Those bonds among the Warriors are a big reason behind their rise in success this spring. Leah’s willingness to step outside of her comfort zone by trying a different sport and joining a new program has certainly proved a good decision.
“I really like the aspect of working as a team, so I decided to stick with it,” Leah says. “I think overall I’m a driven person to succeed in whatever I’m doing. If that’s going to be playing lacrosse, I’m going to put my all into it.”
Leah will be attending the University of New Hampshire later this year. Leah wants to continue playing lacrosse and is considering trying out for the school’s club team. Leah is looking forward the next chapter of her life, but she sure is going to miss her days as a Warrior.
“I think I’m going to miss all of it. We have a great connection, and it’s going to be hard to not have that again next year,” says Leah. “We have a lot of fun.”