Female Coaches Leading WBLGN at USBOXLA Nationals in San Jose
We are thrilled to announce that WBLGN will be represented by an exceptional team of female coaches at the upcoming USBOXLA Nationals tournament in San Jose this August. This marks a significant milestone in our commitment to grow female leadership and participation in Box Lacrosse. Our talented coaches bring a wealth of experience, passion, and dedication to the game, ensuring that our team is prepared for a competitive and inspiring tournament.
Bianca Santucci
Meet Coach Bianca Santucci, box lacrosse player and coach from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Bianca started playing box lacrosse at the age of 8 years old, and has played for Team BC in 4 nationals , winning 3 gold medals and 1 silver. Bianca received a scholarship to Long Island University and played Division 1 field lacrosse and she has also played at the national level for team Italy in a European championship tournament!
Lacrosse has been a huge part of her life ever since her youth and she has furthered her career through coaching box lacrosse with all age groups, including nationally with Team BC this past summer.
Bianca is grateful to have the chance to work with the Women’s Box Lacrosse Global Network to help continue to spread knowledge and passion for the sport of box lacrosse for all female athletes around the world.
“Together we can make a big difference in the sport of lacrosse, and I’m looking forward to making more connections and meeting other women who share the same passion as me!”
Bianca Ballarin
Meet Coach Bianca Ballarin, who has been playing box lacrosse since she was 8 years old. She started out on the field and eventually found herself in the net, not entirely by choice! Bianca was quite successful in her new position and has been a goalie ever since.
Over the years, Bianca achieved some memorable milestones, including winning three national championships and a silver medal at nationals. Now, she shares her passion and experience as a coach for Team B.C. Lacrosse and as a Goalie Coach for all age groups.
As a female coach, Bianca recognizes how crucial it is for female athletes to have strong role models. Female coaches play a vital role in inspiring and guiding the next generation of athletes, and she is committed to being that mentor.
“I am super excited and grateful to be part of the Women’s Box Lacrosse Global Network Group. I look forward to coaching some incredibly talented and powerful women, helping them reach their full potential in this amazing sport.”
Tami Tommila
Meet Coach Tami Tommila, Washington State Lacrosse Hall of Fame Coach with twenty-five years’ experience coaching high school girls lacrosse. Like our other coaches, Tami started her lacrosse journey as a box player but with few opportunities beyond her teens, she eventually migrated into the field game, which she admittedly, she didn’t really like.
Tami went on to compete for the B.C. Selects, a team that was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in the Team Category in 2014. She also played for the Canadian National Team in three World Championships.
Tami was a Level 1 and Level 2 USA Lacrosse Clinician and has been named Coach of the Year numerous times in Washington State. She has coached her high school team to 14 State Championships, winning seven times.
“I am passionate about the game of lacrosse, and I love to work with young players. My philosophy has always been to teach players the importance of seeking unlimited potential in each other. Women of all ages need to buy into the belief that they can do hard things, and when they do, they can accomplish so much! I grew up in a lacrosse family and spent countless days and years in a box lacrosse arena! I am very excited to be a part of the WBLGN coaching staff and to see the growth and the love of the box game grow around the world!”
Steph Schenkel
Meet Coach Steph Schenkel from Atlanta, Georgia. Coach Steph played Division I lacrosse at Longwood University 2009-2013, winning their conference (NLC) in 2010.
Steph currently coaches a highly successful high school lacrosse. Prior to this, Steph coached in Dallas, Texas, where her field lacrosse team, Southlake Carroll, won the Division II State Championship in 2019. Before her time in Texas, Coach Steph lived in Oakham, England, where she coached field lacrosse and taught Physical Education. During her time in England, she also was the Associate Head Coach at DeMontfort University, leading her team to a second-place finish in their league, a first time for that program.
Her first-time playing box was last September with the Women’s Box Lacrosse Global Network team at the LAXNAI tournament in Utica, NY. She fell in love with the sport! Although an injury has limited her ability to play, she has a passion for growing the sport and being part of a historic movement of female coaches. Steph will join our team of coaches as part of our new WBLGN Coach Mentoring Program, to assist women with learning the ropes as box lacrosse coaches under the guidance and support of an experienced team of female coaches.
“It is most important to me to be a strong role model. I couldn’t wait to jump on this opportunity to learn from other strong women’s coaches so that I might make a difference in this beautiful sport. I hope to help build the next strong generation of women’s box lacrosse players. “It isn’t always about winning, but grinning. This is only the beginning.”
