Wolves ready to make impact in spring

By Wendi Reardon Price
Staff Writer
wprice@mihomepaper.com
WATERFORD — Clarkston Girls Varsity Lacrosse are ready to prove how much they have grown over the last year as they head to Waterford Kettering for the season opener when they return from spring break on Tuesday, April 2.
The Wolves closed last season to Kettering in the regional playoffs with a 11-7 loss.
“It was a tough loss,” said Melanie Alnaraie, head coach. “It was a good game. It was one that I think we could have won, but we fell a little bit short. We are going in with a little bit of vengeance. We want that win, and we have been working very hard for it.”
She added the players are going to show up focused and determined.
“They have a chip on their shoulder,” Alnaraie said. “The girls are determined to prove everyone wrong that we deserve that win. I have no doubt the girls will be able to go out there and perform. They worked hard during tryouts. We worked hard at practice all this week.”
She shared during the off season a lot of the players were on travel teams and participating in clinics which leads to a strength going into this season. A majority of last year’s players were not only brand new to the team but the sport with little to zero experience.
Alnaraie noted through the 2023 spring season they was a lot of growth from the first game to the last game, but it wasn’t noticeable unless at every game.
This season the hard work in the off season will be noticeable.
She added the players learned a lot with five scrimmages at Lake Orion High School on March 16, which included teams they will see later during the season.
“We matched up very well,” Alnaraie said. “We definitely learned a lot from our scrimmages that weekend so we are going to take everything that we’ve learned and really put it out to the field when we come back from break.”
The Clarkston Girls Lacrosse program had 41 players at tryouts which was big for Alnaraie who had a goal to have varsity, JV and youth teams for the girls program.
“It’s something that when they first hired me as head coach I wanted,” she said. “I want a JV team. I want a youth team. I thought we were a couple years out. I wasn’t really expecting this year to have a huge turnout. I was pleasantly surprised when 41 girls showed up a tryouts. I was prepared for it. I got a schedule in for JV. I hired a coach and I was like worst case we don’t have enough girls, I cancel those games and have an assistant coach on varsity. It worked out. It’s very exciting. I am excited to see it come together. We have a great community. We have great coaches and volunteers who want to help.”
The varsity team plays at Waterford Kettering on April 2 at 6 p.m.
The Wolves play at Grand Blanc on Thursday, April 4. They host Stoney Creek in the home opener at Clarkston High School Stadium on April 8. JV plays at 5:30 p.m. and varsity follows for both games.
“They want to win it this year,” Alnaraie said. “It’s such a great feeling win or lose. They have a strong team, a strong family that makes a huge difference. I hope people come out and watch the games and support us. We appreciate any support.”