A Reflection on Growth, Gratitude, and the Class of 2026
By Halley Griggs & Ciara Thurlow
Every February, as our indoor winter training season comes to a close, we arrive at a moment that never feels routine — our senior send-off. It’s a pause in the calendar. A chance to reflect. And a reminder of why Triple Threat began in the first place.
When we look back, it all truly started with the Class of 2019 — our first senior class. They trusted a vision that was still taking shape and showed us what long-term development could look like when athletes are supported not just as players, but as people. In many ways, they set the tone for everything that followed. Having Shea van den Broek join us on the sidelines this fall and winter felt like a full-circle moment — a reminder of both why we started and just how far this journey has taken us.
The classes that followed continued to shape that foundation. The Class of 2020 helped turn it into a lasting culture, with players like Kit Arrix, Tate Paulson, and Taylor Lane giving back as coaches and mentors long after their playing days. The Class of 2021 carried that spirit forward — athletes like Shira Parower reminding us that Triple Threat is something players stay connected to, not just for what they gain, but for what they’re eager to give.
As the years have gone on, every class has left its mark. Each group has brought new lessons, new energy, and new perspectives — helping us evolve as coaches just as much as we hope we’ve helped them grow as athletes. For all the lessons we aim to impart, we’re deeply grateful for the lessons our players teach us along the way.
And now, we arrive at the Class of 2026.
This group holds a particularly special place in our hearts because we’ve quite literally watched them grow up. We’ve known many of them since elementary school. There are moments when we still see flashes of that — sticks almost taller than bodies, big dreams paired with early determination. Watching who they’ve become — not just as players, but as people — has been a privilege.
We’ve seen the highest highs: college commitments, awards, moments of pure joy. We’ve also walked alongside them through real adversity — season-ending injuries, major surgeries, and heartfelt losses. Through it all, they’ve shown up for one another with grace, grit, and gratitude. It hasn’t been a smooth ride, but they’ve never walked it alone. And that matters.
Their commitment sets them apart. Some drive five minutes to get here. Some drive an hour and a half each way. That love for the game — and for playing it together — is something we’ll always associate with this class.
As this season comes to a close, we’re reminded that moments like this aren’t really endings — they’re transitions. Markers of growth. Proof of the time, trust, and effort invested along the way.
To the Class of 2026: thank you. Thank you for trusting us, for showing up, and for growing alongside us. While we hope we’ve helped grow your game, please know that you’ve shaped us too. As coaches, we learn just as much from our athletes as we teach — and you’ve challenged us, inspired us, and helped us grow every step of the way.
Every goodbye starts with a beginning.
And we can’t wait to watch what comes next.