When senior Sam Wetzel, who was moved up to the varsity lacrosse team as a sophomore, sat in the health classroom last year preparing for the upcoming lacrosse season, Justin Georgacakis, boys lacrosse head coach, told his team he envisioned them making it to the State Championship.

According to Georgacakis, a major debate among coaches is whether to move an athlete up to a varsity team as an underclassman. “The question becomes, ‘Is it better if they’re a player and a star on JV, or are they getting better by practicing with varsity?’” said Georgacakis. “There are some players that are emotionally and mentally ready and are able to ride the bench for a year, practice with the older guys and be mentored and be challenged, and then come back and be better.”

Georgacakis said he has talked with many lacrosse coaches around the state, and all have their own opinion on the topic.

“There are a million and one ways to [decide whether to move a player up], and what we do is we try and get to know the players and try and make that judgment as it goes on,” said Georgacakis. “My argument is that if an individual is a bit more athletic or has a little more skill than his JV peers, having him come up to practice with varsity will accelerate that learning curve between varsity and JV.”

Traits like these are what Georgacakis said he thought about when he decided Wetzel was ready to be moved up his sophomore year.

“[Sophomore year], I learned how big of a team game it is because [I have] been on teams that have had All-State guys, guys go on and play in college, and it’s not about the individual,” said Wetzel. “It’s not about the X’s and O’s. It’s about forming a brotherhood with your teammate.”

Freshman Samantha Cramin, a member of the girls varsity soccer team, is in Wetzel’s former position of being an underclassmen on varsity.

After playing a season on varsity, Cramin said she sees both sides as to why a coach would, or would not, move a player up to varsity.

“[Some of the challenges are that] the pressure builds because the upperclassmen have been playing longer and have more experience in a high school sport, the competition is a lot bigger than I am and the coach expects a higher level of play,” said Cramin. “[Some of the positives are that] I get to make friends with people that aren’t my age, I’m playing a more competitive level of the sport I love and I get to learn from upperclassmen with more experience than me.”

Georgacakis said he really saw the positive effects of his decision to move Wetzel up to varsity during his junior year on the team that made it to the State Championship.

“I think that one year of development was crucial,” said Georgacakis. “He kept a great mind, positive attitude and worked hard, and that’s a tribute to him. He is definitely one of our go-to guys.”

According to Georgacakis, player and program development is most important, and if that means having an underclassman wait a year, he is willing to make that investment.

“Varsity is ultimately a reward, a privilege,” said Georgacakis. “You want to build up those guys so that when their number is called they can help, and they have the ability to contribute at the top level.”