Varsity girls lacrosse has experienced a season of both challenges and growth, but one of the defining moments has been the arrival of new head coach Duncan FitzGerald. A New Hampshire native, FitzGerald brings both local roots and high-level experience to Proctor Academy. Fitzgerald grew up just miles away in New London and played at Kersarge Regional High School. Before joining Proctor, he served as the director of the 4 Leaf Girls Lacrosse program (a role he continues while coaching at Proctor) for two years, and spent four years as an assistant coach for the Middlebury College men’s lacrosse team from 2018 to 2022.
A highlight of this season has been the energy surrounding both practices and games. The team has battled through several close matchups this year, including our game against Cushing Academy a few weeks ago. Over time, our systems have really come together, especially our defensive unit, led by senior captain Bella Simeone. In recent weeks, every player has put in the effort to not only get to know one another off the field but also to understand each other’s tendencies within the game. That chemistry has allowed our defense to communicate more effectively against talented offenses and to create several key turnovers.
Although this is a rebuilding year for the program, I have realized that setting this team up for future success starts with the coaches' clear expectations, the captains’ leadership, and the team's willingness to take on challenges headfirst. What has stood out most is the supportiveness of the group as a whole and the way everyone has embraced the process together.
Personally, this team feels drastically different from the teams I’ve been a part of in the past because of the camaraderie within the group. The balance of holding each other accountable while also reminding one another why we love the game has been incredibly meaningful; a strategy we’ve been talking about since preseason in March. Before this season, I don’t think I fully understood the importance of that balance, though being a part of this team with this culture has changed my perspective.
As a captain, leading this team alongside Maddie ‘26 and Bella ‘26 has taught me even more about leadership and teamwork. It has shown me that leadership is less about individual recognition and more about building trust, encouraging each other, and fostering a culture where everyone feels valued and included.
As the spring season quickly approaches its end, I hope to leave a lasting impact on this program. I’ve learned from so many great leaders before me, and I have intentionally tried to carry those lessons into my own approach while also bringing my own work ethic and personality to the role. I hope I’ve helped define this team’s standards and shown what it means to embrace every individual, because every player has an important role in the success of the team.
I’ve realized that leading through transitions is one of the hardest responsibilities of being a captain, but also one of the most meaningful for the long-term future of a program. Through those transitions, captains help players and coaches understand what makes Proctor lacrosse so special, and I believe Maddie, Bella, and I have worked hard to do that for this program. I hope our coaches, teammates, and even those outside the team have been able to see that as well.
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Hannah Sweatt '26, a senior captain of Girls Varsity Lacrosse, wrote this spotlight as part of her Senior Project with Proctor's Communications Office.
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