The Lake Forest College handball team won all three national championship titles, Division I Men’s, Division I Women’s, and Division I Combined, at the United States Handball Association National Collegiate Championships in Portland, Oregon on the weekend of February 21st.
Coach Michael Dau ’58, a graduate of Lake Forest College, has led the handball team to the national championship every year since he began coaching at the College. Senior captains Laffey and Craghead credited the win to teamwork, persistence, and Coach Dau’s direction and believe that being a part of the handball team has been a defining part of their college experiences.
“As a senior captain, I personally took away an incredible work ethic and a great group of friends. I had never played handball before coming to college…Handball is not an easy game, and it requires great patience and determination…I owe my success to Coach Dau. It is a remarkable feat to sweep a national tournament and getting to experience that with my fellow teammates is something I will never forget,” said captain Amber (“Bert”) Craghead ’15.
Freshman player Kyra Vidas also expressed her delight for the sport: “It’s been a great first year. I am so happy I decided to play handball. I have met some of the greatest people who I call teammates and have the best coach. We had a tremendous season, and I can’t wait to see what the future has to bring to the program!”
The 49-time national championship winning handball team is looking for freshmen and sophomores to begin learning the sport now in anticipation of next year. Students new to the sport can excel quickly as long as they work hard. The entire women’s team for the 2014- 2015 season had never played handball before coming to the College and was still very successful at local tournaments and the national tournament.
Handball season runs from late October to late February. Any fall or spring athletes are welcome. No experience is necessary and practice gear will be provided. Anyone is welcome to e-mail Coach Dau at dau@lakeforest.edu or women’s team member Lisa Ledvora at ledvorala@lakeforest.edu for more information or for a try-out with Coach Dau at the Sports Center.
