For many of the girls who have been on this team for a while, Laird Jonas, a now retired math teacher, has been their coach. After his sudden retirement, Anthony Segretti, a history teacher, took on this role; the girls had similar thoughts about this change.
Veronica Rossi, a junior who has played defense since her freshman year, said, “Segretti is doing well as a coach, he knows all the rules really well, and I think he’s creating good relationships between the players and him as the coach.”
“In games that we lose, we try to keep a positive outlook on it. And he allows us as a team to maintain hope and get better altogether,” Rossi said.
Marylin O’Day, a senior and one of the team captains, was asked to share her thoughts on Segretti’s coaching.
“He’s very communicative and you can tell he cares about the team. He’s an active coach who comes prepared for both practices and games,” said O’Day.
Overall, it seems like the team is adjusting pretty well to the changes. The girls have shown appreciation for his effort and dedication. Segreti is also putting in the work to learn the game and build strong connections with the players.
Segreti shared his thoughts on what inspired him to take on the role.
“There was a vacancy, and I was interested in doing something more with the Baruch community. So, I thought this would be a good opportunity to get involved with one of the sports,” he said.
On his first impressions of the team, he praised their camaraderie and leadership, especially amongst the seniors.
“The team has been a lot of fun. The majority of the team is made up of seniors, there’s some really excellent leadership, and there’s a lot of camaraderie. It does mean that there’s going to be some large shoes to fill after this season is over. I think that we have some really great ninth, 10th, and 11th graders that can step up next year,” he said.
Segretti emphasized his main goal is creating a positive and enjoyable team environment.
“Team sports are life lessons,” he said. “It is great to win, but losing is also part of life, and something that is important for everybody to learn to do gracefully.”
When asked what lessons he hopes to impart, he said the importance of perseverance and teamwork. “I think that sports can be, can be really challenging at times, and you have to develop more character when you’re challenged than when you’re not challenged,” he said.
Finally, Segretti reflected on what he enjoys most about coaching this team: “I really enjoy watching the girls interact with each other, and I’ve really enjoyed watching the seniors help the underclass get more into the sport.”
With a new vision for the team and a drive to succeed, the new girls soccer coach, Segreti is ready to elevate the team and inspire the next generation of athletes.
