Grow Together, Win Together

The Mustangs had an exciting Spring 2022 lacrosse season – they won the Mission League Championship and had a teammate, Julia G. ’25, named the Mission League’s Most Valuable Player. The team’s coach, Meghan Toomey, was also celebrated for her leadership with two accolades: CIF Southern Section Division 3 Coach of the Year and USA Lacrosse Greater Los Angeles Area Coach of the Year. We caught up with Coach Toomey to discuss her personal journey in sports, her time with Marlborough lacrosse, and what it meant for her to receive these awards.

What was your path into coaching?
I grew up a multisport athlete – I played lacrosse, basketball, field hockey, and ran cross country – so I had the opportunity to experience many different coaches and coaching styles. This taught me a lot about leadership, team camaraderie, and helped me understand all aspects of sport and team dynamics. Participating in a multitude of sports also gave me a wide variety of experiences as a player. During my junior year of high school, I was actually cut from the lacrosse team. While I did make the team my senior year, I still spent most of the year cheering from the sidelines. Nevertheless, I was invested and eager to earn my time on the field. When I played lacrosse at the Division 3 level in college, our team won back-to-back national championships, and I had the opportunity to start all four years, serve as team captain, and be named All-American.

All of these experiences led me to coaching because I can truly relate to every athlete on our team – at some point in my athletic career, I was in their shoes. Seeing the team operate as a unit is why I love coaching. If you asked that girl who got cut from the team in high school if she would be a lacrosse coach someday, she would probably give you a pretty funny look. But I am so happy this is where I landed, and I know I wouldn’t be here without the ups and downs of my own athletic experiences.

What do you most enjoy about coaching lacrosse at Marlborough? 
The students! They are inherently hardworking and success driven. Those are skills that are difficult to teach. The fact that they are already so motivated gives me the opportunity to provide them with more tools to succeed in the game. We get to focus on technical skills, team building, and synergy. Their high effort brings high energy, allowing the entire team to be that much more successful. 

What was the most rewarding part of the Spring 2022 season?
The most rewarding part was watching the team come together and grow together. The team believed in themselves as a unit from the start of the season. Ultimately, winning the championship came down to that confidence. That eagerness to believe, grow, and win together is really all I can ask for as a coach.

How does it feel to be recognized for your leadership?
I am immensely grateful. From the very beginning, there has been a lot of love and support for one another and this program. This is now the tradition we will continue to pass on for years to come. I am so appreciative to the players and their families for their trust in me, and I am thankful to the Athletic Department, athletic trainers, and the Marlborough community as a whole for providing me with everything I need to guide our athletes to success and lifelong friendships. I am looking forward to continuing to build on that foundation and add even more purple banners in the gym. My Mustang pride runs deep.