MONROE, CT — Once a lacrosse player for Masuk High, Derek Flynn is now leading the Panthers as the head coach. Flynn played lacrosse at Masuk from 2005-08 and went on to play at Quinnipiac University.
“I am glad to be back at Masuk as a coach to help give back to a program that gave me so much,” he said. “My coaches in high school were and still are my role models and people that helped me on the lacrosse field, but more importantly, off the field.”
On the turf, the Panthers will look to improve day to day under the direction of Flynn.
“Our Expectations for the season are to be consistent, get better every day, build team chemistry and to have fun playing lacrosse every day,” the coach said. “If we can do those things, we will be successful.”
Senior captains are midfielder Jack Nugent, defender Ryder LaGuardia and attack player Kyle Beckett.
The South-West Conference will have some tough competition as always with defending conference champion New Fairfield, last year’s runner-up, Weston, along with Newtown and Joel Barlow among the typically tough squads in the fold.
“Newtown is always a good rivalry game for us,” Flynn said. “We look forward to playing Newtown because they are a solid, hardworking team that finds success year in and year out. Their perennial success makes us strive to be a better team each year, so that we can compete with them and the thought of them working hard everyday drives us to work harder.”
Masuk opened the season with a non-conference tilt, a 4-3 win over Shelton on Saturday. The Panthers visit Trumbull Tuesday, April 5, at 6 p.m.
Pomperaug visits Monroe on Thursday, April 7, at 6 p.m. in Masuk’s home opener and first SWC clash. After hosting Hall on Saturday, April 9, at 2:45 p.m., Masuk will visit Newtown on Tuesday, April 12, at 6 p.m.
