FUEL
MOTIVATION
Shelly Brezicki has led Manchester Valley (Md.) to three straight state girls’ lacrosse titles.
‘A BIGGER PURPOSE’ Manchester Valley’s Shelly
Brezicki is never coaching alone BY MATT HAMILTON
Shelly Brezicki, coach of the Manchester Valley (Md.) girls’ lacrosse team, won’t be seen on gameday without her favorite necklace. No matter the circumstance, she’ll wear the necklace emblazoned with the word “Big” and numbers 21 and 41. “Big” was a familiar motto from former assistant coach Devin Spence, who wore No. 21 in high school. The No. 41 represented the firehouse number of her brother, Gene Kirchner. Both lost their lives in a matter of months in 2013. “It’s just a reminder that I’m never coaching alone,” Brezicki said of her necklace.
It was a devastating time for Manchester Valley lacrosse some three years ago, but it has grown from the experience. After falling short of a state title in 2013, Brezicki and her team have won three straight Class 2A-1A titles.
Brezicki, who will host a session at the US Lacrosse Convention Jan. 20-22, 2017, at the Baltimore
22 US LACROSSE MAGAZINE December 2016
Convention Center, has learned valuable lessons in the past few years. However, she said the hard times have helped become a better coach and person.
#LaxCon Lineup
The US Lacrosse Convention, the sport’s largest educational event, returns to Baltimore Jan. 20-22, 2017. Among confirmed speakers at press time:
Taylor Cummings Baltimore Ride Team USA
Courtney Connor Arizona State
Ricky Fried Georgetown Team USA
Nick Myers Ohio State Team USA
Shawn Nadelen Towson
Missy Doherty Penn State
Paul Rabil New York Lizards Team USA
Cathy Reese Maryland
Follow updates at
uslacrosse.org/laxcon and #LaxCon.
“We’ve gone through a lot of loss as a program, but the way the community rallied behind it really explains how much a lacrosse program builds a family,” Brezicki said. “It goes way beyond the field and allows kids to learn so much about the bigger purpose in life.” The learning process, however,
started with the loss of Spence, who was preparing for the 2013 season when he was killed in a car accident. Brezicki had never dealt with a tragedy of that magnitude. “That was the first time, as a coach, that I felt lost,” she said. “How do you walk into a room of high school girls who likely have never lost anyone before and explain this to them? How am I going to be strong for them, because I knew they needed that?”
The team rallied behind Spence’s death, posting signs with No. 21 on them and honoring his “big” motivational mantras. But in April of that same year, tragedy struck again, as Kirchner died as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty. Then, it was time for the community to support its coach. Along with No. 21 signs that popped up before games were No. 41 signs. “We were always a team plus two,” Brezicki said. USL
USlacrosse.org
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©BALTIMORE SUN; ©JOHN STROHSACKER
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