Our Team

Director: Sam Bartron

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Sam, a native of England and multi-sport athlete, has been involved in athletics her entire life. Throughout her high school career she competed in track, tennis and lacrosse.  A two time All-England lacrosse player, she represented her county, region and country, captaining the U19 England team as a high school senior and making the U21 England team while at university.  After graduating from Kingston University, Sam moved to the US, residing in Washington, D.C., and San Antonio, TX, until moving to Colorado in 2000.  Since then she has been coaching lacrosse to female athletes at all levels, including elementary, middle and high school, and college.

In 2004 Sam started Team 180.  Now in its 20th year, she has worked with thousands of girls, traveled her teams all over the USA, and established the premier lacrosse club for girls in Colorado.  She has coached more Colorado girls lacrosse All-Americans than all other clubs in the state combined and has placed hundreds of athletes in collegiate programs across the country, making Team 180 the state's top recruiting club.  In 2011, Sam was recognized by “Sportswomen of Colorado” for her contributions to lacrosse.

In 2001, Sam was hired as the inaugural Head Coach for Mullen High School Girls Lacrosse.  As a start out program all players were novices.  Sam recruited basketball and volleyball players, softball catchers, and track and field athletes and put a stick in their hands for the first time.  Within three years, Mullen was ranked 5th in the state, and Sam's passion for lacrosse was reignited. She then went on  to start Team 180.

Sam has also been the head coach for Team Colorado, the Colorado High School National Team and the Under Armour West Team.

Sam is an avid golfer and has competed in the USGA Mid-Am Championship on three different occasions.

Mental Health Counsellor: Kathryn Ames: Founder of Thru The Game

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Kathryn is the founder of Thru the Game and has been working with teenagers for 26 years. Kathryn earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Human Communication at JMU before going on to earn her masters in Counseling Psychology at the University of Colorado in Denver. Kathryn has her professional license and also works with clients individually in her private practice.

As a recent cancer survivor, she was inspired to learn more and enhance her practice. She earned certifications in Mindfulness and Nutritional & Integrative Medicine for Mental Health. Additionally, she completed other courses including: Treating Complex Trauma, Enhancing and Improving Executive Function, CBT for Insomnia, Telehealth and Anxiety, and Therapy in a Post Pandemic World. Kathryn is solution-focused and believes in empowering youth so that they are equipped to deal with life’s challenges. When Kathryn presents, she is able to offer perspectives from her various life roles. Bringing more awareness and education around mental health is her true passion.

 

Director of Minis & Coach: Riley Leischner

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Riley Leischner is a Colorado Native and a former Team 180 2018 alum. She played and coached for the club through high school and has returned after college to run the Team 180 Minis program.

Riley was a dual sport lacrosse and field hockey player in high school at Chatfield. She was a four year starter for the chargers and was named captain in her junior and senior years. She played defense for Team 180 and continued her lacrosse career at Old Dominion University. She helped start the Little Laxer Program in Virginia Beach, teaching young athletes ages 4-9 to play lacrosse.

Coach: Lance Savage

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Lance Savage has over 25 years of experience coaching youth lacrosse and hockey. In 2003 he founded Savage Lacrosse Camps and the Colorado Mountaineers, in an effort to give kids additional coaching, playing time and exposure during the off-season.

From 2005 – 2008 Lance was the head coach of boy’s lacrosse at Colorado Academy, and in 2008 he was recognized by the Colorado High School Lacrosse Coaches Association as Colorado’s "Coach of the Year.”

Lance grew up in New Jersey, where he attended The Lawrenceville School, earning all-state honors in lacrosse, hockey and soccer.  He went on to play lacrosse at Hobart, finishing his college career as a two-time All-American, three-time national champion, and one of the leading scorers in school history.

Lance spent a year playing and coaching in Manchester, England, where he founded youth teams, and introduced hundreds of young students to the game.  He also played professionally for the Baltimore Thunder of the NIL.

Coach: SAM THACKER

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Sam was named 2024 USA Lacrosse Preseason Defender of the Year and was the 2023 IWLCA National D-I Defender of the Year.  She has been the anchor, and most recognized player, of Denver University's "hot pink" defense for five years.

Sam coaches Team 180 high school and middle school teams and brings the most extensive knowledge of game.  She teaches in a manner that is clear, concise and up-lifting and always brings the best out of every player.

Sam's list of honor and awards is extremely extensive, and we are thrilled to have the Maryland native on staff with Team 180.

For a full list of Sam's accolades CLICK HERE

 

Coach: Julie Ball

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Julie grew up in Chicago, IL as a multi-sport athlete. During her freshman year of high school, she decided to give up soccer and try lacrosse for the first time. She fell in love with the sport and by her senior year at New Trier, Julie earned New Trier Best Defender award, was voted Team Captain, and received a D1 offer from Richmond. 

Julie decided to attend Deerfield Academy as a postgraduate student in order to give herself more time to hone in on her lacrosse and academic skills before attending the University of Richmond. At Deerfield she was voted team captain and earned U.S. Lacrosse All-American and First-Team All-State honors. 

At Richmond, Julie won Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year, and the team won the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship. Her senior year she was voted team captain, was the first player in A10 history to be voted Defensive Player of the Year two years in a row, led her team to win back to back A10 Conference Championships, and was nominated for NCAA Women of the Year. Julie also earned A10 honors such as: First Team All-Atlantic 10, All Academic Team, and All Tournament Team. 

Julie moved to Denver, CO to work for Teach For America after graduating The University of Richmond in 2019. Julie has been coaching with Team 180 for the past four years and has focused on implementing defensive strategies for the program.

Mic’d up 2018 and 2019: 

Click below to get to know Julie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsiWjbJWZFs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDjxRa44QAU&t=1s

Coach: Hannah Mill

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Hannah is a recent graduate from Regis University where she earned a Masters in Organizational Leadership. She returns to Colorado and Team 180 with Division 1 Big East coaching experience from Xavier University. Prior to this, she has club and high school experience with True Colorado and Mullen. She is currently serving as the assistant coach for Rock Canyon for the 2024 season.
Hannah is a Colorado native who graduated from Chaparral High School in 2018. During her high school career she was named All American by Adrenaline and US Lacrosse. She also set the all time career points record for Chaparral. She was a member of the Team 180 18' graduating class.
After high school, she went on to play D1 at Stetson University and finished her undergrad at UCCS. While at Stetson, she was named to the ASUN All Freshman team. And achieved D2 All American while setting multiple program records for UCCS.

Coach: Jen Rogers

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Jenn is originally from New Hampshire and played club lacrosse for Granite State Elite.  She was recruited to play attack/midfield on the Cornell lacrosse team.

She graduated from Cornell in 2022 with a degree in Global Development and Business and moved to Denver for a job in healthcare recruitment.

Jen brings a wealth of lacrosse knowledge and coaching experience to Team 180.

Coach: Jane Earley

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Jane was named the 2022 and 2023 Division III Player and Attacker of the Year at Middlebury College where she also won 3 national championships. She is a three-time All-American and Academic All-American. In 2023, she was named the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year. She was the only player in Division III to be named to the Tewaaraton Watchlist in 2023.  In addition to national awards, Jane was also the two-time NESCAC Player of the Year.
She served as a captain at Middlebury in her season season and was also awarded the Hazeltine-Klevenow Memorial Trophy for best combining athletic and academic excellence. She graduated summa cum laude from Middlebury in 2023, and is currently playing her 5th year at the University of Denver.
Jane has experience coaching with Boston Laxachusetts, the club she played for growing up on the East Coast. She was also a main coach for Middlebury College’s Kiddie Lax program.

Coach: Ellie Walsh

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Ellie grew up in Westchester, NY with 4 older brothers who she owes it all to.

She played for Long Island Express and Primetime and went on to coach for Primetime during college.

She was a 3 sport athlete in high school - field hockey basketball and lacrosse where she served as captain in all three.  Ellie was a 2 time all American in lacrosse in HS.

She committed to Cornell at the beginning of her sophomore year to challenge herself academically & athletically.  She played midfield and finished her sophomore season leading all midfielders on the team in assists, points, ground balls and draw controls.  She was selected to the All-Ivy second team.  Ellie served as captain for the Big Red.

Ellie moved to Denver in 2021 to pursue a career in healthcare policy and has coached with Team 180 since that time.

Click HERE to get to know Ellie!

Coach: Megan Zeman

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Former Pioneer Megan Zeman was added to the Denver women's lacrosse staff in 2018 as a volunteer assistant coach. She completed her fourth season with the program in 2022 and first as Director of Lacrosse Operations. 

Megan is the draw control specialist coach for the Pioneers and in 2021 Zeman helped lead the Pioneers to a 16-2 record, including a BIG EAST regular season title, BIG EAST Tournament title and a trip back to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In the draw game, graduate student Molly Little became the second player to reach 200 draw controls in the program's DI history. 

Zeman attended the University of Denver from 2007-10, appearing in 72 games for the Crimson and Gold. During her career, she scored 15 goals, had three assists, 67 ground balls, 47 draw controls and 49 caused turnovers.

In 2010, she started all 18 games as a defender and finished fifth on the team in caused turnovers with 17. Prior to that season, she played midfielder, where she was second on the team in ground balls in with 25 and fourth in caused turnover with 15 while starting all 18 games in 2009.

As a former player and now volunteer assistant coach, "I think it's unique in that I took some time away, and although I've been announcing their games for the past few years with Altitude, it's nice to now be field level and to come back. 

"I've coached youth and club and I am excited to carry it over to the college level. Thankfully, I've been able to watch this team since I graduated."

From Littleton, Colo., Zeman attended Mullen High School, where she earned All-America and Rocky Mountain News "Best of the Best" honors as a sophomore and junior. A three-time all-conference honoree, Zeman was named to the all-state team her junior season.

Zeman graduated from Denver with a degree in communications.

Recruiting Coordinator: Melynda Brown

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Melynda was a three sport high school athlete, who followed her heart to play lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts (Division 1). After graduation she coached at the University of Connecticut (Division 1) for four years, helping turn around the program for the better. Melynda has since coached at a top private high school in Maryland and started her own program at the Division 2 level, where she helped student-athletes find a place on the field. Melynda helps Team 180 athletes find the correct fit with their college journey and provides an invaluable service to both players and parents.

Melynda is the athletic director at Mullen High School.

SPEED, STRENGTH CONDITIONING

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RETROFIT TRAINING CENTER

Billy Corbett is the founder of Retrofit and has trained our athletes since Team 180 began in 2004.  Billy has an extensive knowledge of lacrosse having played and coached at all levels.

  • Bachelor of Science – the State University of New York at Cortland
 – Sports Management
  • IYCA Youth Fitness Specialist Level III
  • IYCA Youth Speed and Agility Specialist
  • NSCA Strength and Conditioning Specialist
  • Board Member on the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness
  • Board Member for Heritage College Personal Training program.
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ELITE SPEED PEFORMANCE TRAINING

Elite's mission is to provide the highest level of knowledge, character, and dedication to our athletes. From professional to youth development, we will help any athlete go beyond their initial potential in a more intimate setting than anywhere else.  Our professional coaching staff and biomechanical approach to speed, agility, and explosive training has helped thousands of athletes develop into elite-level players. We defy the saying “You can't teach speed.” Sport specific movement mechanics are addressed at every level.  Every athlete has access to our advanced training app. This includes performance monitoring, where we track important measurements and learn the best way to improve our athletes. In addition, we create recruiting profiles for all of our athletes.