New Lawrence North Girls Soccer Coach Talks Goals For Next Season
Writer: Matt Keating
Photography provided by Lawrence North
Mitchell Holden, the new Lawrence North High School Girls Soccer Head Coach, has a strong set of goals for the team next season, and he firmly believes they can all be met.
“My goals for next season are pretty extensive,” Holden says. “I would like to win sectionals, compete for a Conference Championship, maintain our team GPA of over 3.8 and have numerous All-District, All-Conference and Academic All-State Sectionals.”
Mike Penrose, Lawrence North’s athletic director, says Lawrence North is coming off an 11-8-3 season, including a berth in the Marion County tournament finals and the school’s first ever IHSAA sectional championship.
“We are very excited to welcome Mitch Holden into the Wildcat family,” Penrose says. “He has a lot of energy, and we were impressed with what others had to say about his work ethic, character and his commitment to his players.”
Holden is looking forward to leading the team to new victories and has already been busy preparing for the new season.
“Currently, along with Lawrence North, I am an Assistant Coach for Marian University Women’s Soccer,” Holden says. “Prior to this year, I was the Head Girls Soccer Coach at Mooresville High School. At Mooresville, we were Sectional Runner-ups in 2016 and Co-Mid State Conference Champions in 2017.”
Before he was a coach, Holden was in The United States Navy for five years, completing two combat deployments to the Persian Gulf and was a Command Fitness Leader.
“I am extremely excited to join the Wildcat family, and continue the statute of excellence set forth by the athletic department,” Holden says. “I look forward to leading these girls and watch them become outstanding young ladies, but also help create a winning, championship culture surrounding the Lawrence North soccer program.”
Holden says the girls soccer team is in a unique situation this season with many players returning this year.
“I firmly believe that seniors win championships, and we have 11 returning seniors,” Holden says. “We have a lot of young talent as well to help us reach our full potential and to keep up our winning culture in the future.”
Holden stressed that “Grace Moore and Ryli John are two exceptional players that will have a big impact on our season. Both will be playing soccer at the next level. Anslyn Freije is a great technical player that will be at the heart of our midfield.
“Our back line consists of four seniors,” he adds. “So much leadership and experience on defense should keep us competitive in every game.”
Holden says that goalkeeper Elyse Moser will be a key factor on defense as well.
“Ellie Bisard, Lauren Koehl, Leah Sheldon, Sidney Swindell, Allie Malloy and Brooklyn Stewart are underclassmen who I expect to step up in a big way. The team has already begun spring conditioning and open fields.”
Holden added that “the girls have bought in and are locked into becoming one of the fittest teams in the state. Summer practices will begin the first week of June.”
Holden says he was impressed with the team’s victories last season.
“To cap off a winning season, they won the first sectional title in school history,” Holden says. “That is a great accomplishment, and we plan to reinforce it with sustained success in the years to come.”
In addition to his duties at Lawrence North, Holden will be busy at home as well. He and his wife, Melissa, are expecting the birth of their first child, a son, around mid-May. He says it’s been a busy but fun time.
“I’m looking forward to bringing a winning tradition and culture to the Lawrence North Girls Soccer Program,” Holden says. “This school has an outstanding athletic department and a tradition of competing with the top schools in Indiana. I’m honored and blessed to have this opportunity to coach these outstanding young ladies and can’t wait to get started.”
