By Annie Hynes
Meet the Crouch sisters: senior, Keelin, sophomore, Tatum, and freshman, Kathleen. The stars have aligned so that not only would the sisters be in high school at the same time, but they would play together, too. Athletes since the age of five, they have all found lacrosse to be their sport of choice. Usually when you like something, you do it well. No exception here, all three are starters on the competitive Easton High School girls varsity lacrosse team (Warriors). All three have also spent time playing with Maryland United Lacrosse Club. The club requires a huge time commitment (with games up and down the East Coast) and they only accept the best of the best in girls’ lacrosse from across the state of Maryland.
Keelin is a top defender for the team with impressive stats, according to Head Coach Allie Gamble; this season she had five forced turnovers and nine ground balls. Keelin is the oldest and a senior at EHS. She will be attending University of Maryland College Park this fall as a public health major with a goal to continue her education and earn a Masters of nursing. “Playing sports translates to me the importance of connecting with people and supporting others. My old coach, Joe Gamble, always said, ‘You either get better or you get worse, you never stay the same.’ I feel like this is true for life. If you don’t try to be a better person, whether it’s nicer or more determined, then you’re never going to improve and live a better life.”
Tatum, the middle sister, plays attack and is one of the top scorers for the team with 19 goals, seven assists, and 15 ground balls. She has experienced the memory of a lifetime on the lax field. She scored the “make or eak” goal last year during their rivalry game with Saints Peter and Paul. She is the president of her sophomore class and maintains a 3.85 GPA. Tatum, like her sister, feels that hard work pays off and allows you to achieve your goals in life.
Kathleen, the youngest, is just a freshman at EHS, but has already made her mark. She also plays attack and started every game. Her record as a young varsity player is impressive with six goals, three assists, and nine ground balls. Discipline is what she believes makes her a good lacrosse player. “Sports have taught me many important qualities for everyday life. One would be self-control. To be a successful lacrosse player I must not take my anger out on the field. I have to control myself. This is similar to the real world. Having self-control allows me to control my behavior when I face temptations,” Kathleen says.
This year the girls played a big part in the “upset” game of the year. Easton and the Saints Peter and Paul High School Sa es have always been cross-town rivals. Though they (boys and girls) compete in the regular season, the rivalry usually culminates at the Bull Roast, a tournament fundraiser for Talbot Lacrosse Association for kids of all ages. The rival games are always an exciting and much anticipated part of the day with alumni and parents filling up the grandstands. This year was no exception. On the girl’s side, Easton was down 11-2 at the half and came back to win 12-11. All three girls were instrumental in the win: Tatum, with three back-to-back-to-back goals, in the second half. Keelin on defense helped keep the Sa es pointless in the entire second half, and Kathleen stayed in control, and ready to assist. Coach Allie Gamble calls the girls “impact players,” which they certainly proved in the big game.
On the field, at home, or in the classroom, the girls consider their mom (Erin Crouch, is a teacher at Easton Middle School) a major influence in their life. Keelin sweetly expressed her admiration, “My mom definitely motivates me. She does so much for my sisters, other, and me. She comes to all our lacrosse games, even if they are two hours away, always cheering loud. She teaches me the importance of hard work and always supports me both in sports and life. A part of me plays for her.”
Coach Allie Gamble and Assistant Coach Rachel Strang love that the girls are so different, they didn’t see any sibling rivalry, or the need to live up to another sister’s standards. Coach Strang put it perfectly when she says, “They are a wonderful, close knit family [who] are a joy to coach.”
The girls live in Easton with their parents Erin and Andy, and little other, Declan. Who, by the way, plays baseball (that other spring sport).