Crusader Nation

4 Crusader Nation • Spring 2017 program has not had a winning season since 1998. Instead she saw an oppor- tunity to work with the kind of student-athletes that she enjoys the most: talented athletes who are equally successful in the classroom and never willing to compro- mise one for the other. A native of Oldwick, N.J., Lapicki has always viewed Holy Cross with high regard and as the type of school that is desirable to student- athletes with two priorities — academics and athletics. She recalls first encountering this type of student-athlete while working as an assistant coach at Princeton — often regard- ed as a rival to Holy Cross both on the field and in the classroom. Similar to Holy Cross, whose athletics teams hold a Graduation Success Rate of 97 percent, Princ- eton's GSR is 96 percent. "Just because we're fighting for a Patriot League cham- pionship, it doesn't mean our athletes are not doing great things in the classroom and challenging themselves there," said Lapicki. "While working at Princeton, I got to experience a different type of student-athlete. It was an athlete who was more techni- cal with the game and more thoughtful in some areas. I loved working with that kind of student-athlete, and Holy Cross creates a very similar environment." Now in her first season with the Crusaders, Lapicki has short and long-term goals identified on the agenda. For the big picture, she has the bar set high in winning a Patriot League champion- ship. "That's a big one for us, and that's something we fight for day-in and day- out," said Lapicki. In the short term, she plans to push her squad to new heights by focusing on the details and fundamentals. When dialing into these fundamental details, Lapicki lists her process goals, which are established across the team on a weekly basis. "How are we going to execute the small-ball game or what do we want to do in the pitching circle?" explained Lapicki. "How will we approach the defensive facet of our game?" Hitting the ground run- ning, Lapicki designed her pre-season in the fall with an emphasis on hard work. This hard work is nothing shy of 6 a.m. practices and cold, long, early-morning runs. Watching her team rise to meet the challenge of those early morning demands and high-intensity training sessions, she's learned what they can do and has estab- lished what it will take for the Crusaders to reach their true potential through men- tal toughness in conjunction with physical components. "We have an incredibly tal- ented group of student-ath- letes who are willing to work above and beyond," said Lapicki. "It's our job to push them beyond their own expectations — physically, emotionally, and mentally — and to understand what they are capable of. They have all the tools, so it's just about bringing it out every single day." Lapicki has been beyond im- pressed with how her squad has reacted to her newly implemented system. When asked about other components of a cham- pionship culture, Lapicki mentioned two areas: en- gagement of the program's alumnae and the support of the Crusader Athletics Fund (CAF). "When we speak about our mission of devel- oping and building a cham- pionship culture, we know this is only possible because of the support provided by CAF. Having the support needed to travel and recruit top tier athletes, and then provide them with the tools needed to compete at the highest level, is an incred- ible accomplishment that we owe to CAF." Lapicki credits CAF for her team's ability to sport the best equipment and travel regionally and nationally to compete against the best in the country during pre- season. Since Lapicki joined the Holy Cross Softball program, she has focused a significant amount of her energy on engaging alumnae through letters and phone calls, and continues to develop relationships through the mentoring program and alumnae events. "We can only build and sustain a championship cul- ture by understanding and respecting the legacy and foundation that was created by all those who have previ- ously worn the Crusader uniform." It is important to Lapicki that her students understand they are representing something much larger than them. The support of the program's alumnae and CAF are crucial pieces to that championship culture Lapicki is hoping to further develop. Remembering the emo- tions and energy she was exposed to each time she reached the NCAA tourna- ment, Lapicki wants nothing less than for her team to reach their goals. "It's an incredible opportuni- ty to experience post-season play," Lapicki recalled. "It's a feeling that stays with you long after the season is over. As a coach, I want every single one of my student- athletes to experience that. It's about this team and what they fight for and deserve. Getting back to the NCAA tournament and seeing my student-athletes reach their goals is what we're all working for — I want them to have that feeling and to realize they can reach it." Greg Barlow is a Media Relations Assistant. Coach Lapicki talks with her team.

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