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05/20/2023 07:37 AMWithin the Shoreline Conference, Old Saybrook sophomore lacrosse player Gretchen Kawecki stands alone atop the leaderboard with 86 goals and 38 assists in her young career. On the field, she has been a driving force in the Rams’ team-oriented style that has them prepared for a deep postseason run this spring.
In just her second season, Gretchen already has opposing defenses shifting to her presence on the field. She has shown poise and maturity in adapting to that added attention, transforming herself into an all-around player. The result for Old Saybrook has been an unselfish team, thriving off of the extra pass or perfectly timed cut. Gretchen has embraced this style of play and finds herself enjoying the role of distributor even more than scorer.
“I actually (more) enjoy setting up other people for goals,” says Gretchen. “Whether it’s a pass or a pick or clearing through or something like that, I actually like to set up other people for goals…. I run a lot of plays with Laura Day, she’s the senior captain and we play at X together. We normally pass and set up each other for goals.”
Even with the added focus on playmaking, Gretchen still leads the Shoreline Conference with 86 goals of her own. She recently passed the 100-point mark (goals + assists) for the second consecutive season.
Last year’s Old Saybrook team featured 10 seniors and they made a deep playoff run, narrowly falling 9-8 to Lauralton Hall in the semifinals of the 2022 Class S State Tournament. As a freshman, Gretchen was already an offensive force and finished the year as the second leading scorer for the
18-2 Rams.
The 2022 season remains on the minds of this year’s team not only as motivation after a difficult loss, but as a reminder of what is required to advance that far in the first place. Gretchen knows they’ll need to channel that same drive if they hope to mirror last year’s success.
“Last year everyone on the team really wanted to win and advance into the next round. I think that’s the main lesson that we can take from last year to this year,” says Gretchen. “I think we all want to really beat Lauralton Hall this year because we lost to them by one point. Everyone wants to make it as far as we did last year or even farther.”
As the year progresses and postseason play approaches, Gretchen continues to work at her game, looking to make herself a more difficult one on one player to defend.
“I am focusing on improving my dodges from up top because I normally play from X, but I want to make my one vs. one dodges from the top of the 12 better,” says Gretchen.
As a sophomore, Gretchen has found herself facing more attention from opposing defenses this season, especially from teams facing her for the second time. “Most of the time I’m marked tighter by teams when we play them the second time,” says Gretchen. “Sometimes man-marked.”
This increase in defensive attention is something Old Saybrook Head Coach Dick Shriver has noticed as well. He praises Gretchen’s ability to adjust and continue to produce at such a high level.
“Gretchen last year was focused on scoring goals and did very well,” says Shriver. “This year in her second year, when other coaches begin to notice her, she has increased her team playing ability, as evidenced by the number of assists. She has 86 goals and 38 assists. That’s an extraordinary accomplishment with three games to go.”
Shriver credits Gretchen’s preparation and intense focus in practice with maintaining and improving her skill on the field. Off the field, her increasing leadership has been a welcome addition to the team which lost 10 seniors from last year.
“She prepares herself well,” says Shriver. “At practice she is ready to go, she is in the game the moment you start shuttle passes…she was good last year and there’s almost no comparison with this year. She’s upped her game dramatically — mentally and physically on the field. Now when we have a timeout, Gretchen has something to say and they listen, she’s stepping up that part of her game as well.”
Once her high school career comes to a close, Gretchen envisions herself continuing to play lacrosse in college where she also wishes to further one of her longtime off the field dreams.
“I’m really interested in business,” says Gretchen. “Practically my whole life I’ve wanted to own my own company.”
No matter what the future holds for Gretchen, there is no doubt she has found a home on the lacrosse field and is already leaving her mark. Her rare combination of natural skill and drive to improve has caught the attention of teammates, opponents, and especially her head coach.
“I would say lacrosse was made for Gretchen and vice-versa,” says Shriver. “She’s good at it and she’s developing fast… she’s had a spectacular career so far for a sophomore in high school.”