Alfonso Gonzalez-Cano ’27 runs the mile.
Andover Boys Lacrosse Co-Captain Jack Bainbridge ’24 has been a member of the lacrosse team since his Junior Year at Andover. Since his early days at Andover, his outgoing nature and commitment to his teammates has shaped his role as a leader.
Bainbridge picked up the sport as a way to bond with friends in middle school and has continued playing ever since. The community aspect remains a vital aspect of his love for the game.
Bainbridge said, “I started playing lacrosse in… fifth grade. My middle school had it as a sport, and it was a way for me and my friends to all bond together and so we all picked it up and started playing.”
Bainbridge is a four-year member of Boys Lacrosse and has been a leader throughout his career. He strives to be someone his teammates can talk to, both about the game and other aspects of their lives. Logan Cove ’24 highlighted Bainbridge’s leadership throughout his time on the team.
Cove said, “There are only a few players that have been on the team for four years, Jack being one of them, and through those four years, even while in the younger grades, he’s [been] a significant leader.”
Bainbridge’s energy is infectious, invigorating the his teammates. To prepare for scrimmages, games, and practices, Bainbridge ensures the team maintains high energy and enthusiasm, while also staying focused. One way he brings this liveliness is through playing loud music that boosts team moral.
Bainbridge said, “I’m a pretty loud personality, and so I use my energy to bring out that energy from others. I usually, at least last year, played the music in the locker room. This year I’m making the pre-game warm-up mix. So, kind of using all that to just like pump energy within the team and get everyone going.”
As a new addition to Boys Lacrosse, Alexander Dimnaku ’27 similarly finds Bainbridge’s energy contagious, and highlighted Bainbridge’s defense.
Dimnaku said, “The best way he’s impacted the team is through how energetic and motivational he’s been for the whole team. Especially [since] he’s the only captain who’s on the defensive end… he’s the main voice [in the defense] and he does a good job at hyping up the defense and making sure the defense is ready to go.”
Bainbridge is a multi-sport athlete who plays hockey in the winter season. Despite his other commitments, according to Cove, he always prioritizes leading the lacrosse team.
Cove said, “He’s a multi-sport player, so he was busy with hockey playoffs but even [with] his commitment to the hockey team and bettering them, he was able to make it out to captain’s practices, tryouts, all that [for lacrosse] even if he wasn’t playing, to help lead the team for the guys and get us all ready for the season.”
Despite only knowing Bainbridge for a short time, Dimnaku is already inspired by his leadership and feels confident in his abilities to direct the team.
“Jack is good at leading by example… Jack is such a good leader because he knows everything we have to do, and he knows how to do it, and he knows how to direct people and tell people what to do, while also being motivational,” said Dimnaku.
