DATE: Oct. 22, 2001
CONTACT: Paul Krome

Bryn Mawr's Kridel Named U.S. Women's U-19 Head Coach

Veteran Coach Will Lead Defending Champs for Second Consecutive Tournament

Baltimore — Wendy Kridel, head girls' lacrosse coach at the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, has been named head coach of the U.S. women's under-19 team that will compete in the 2003 International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA) World Championship at Towson (Md.) University, as announced today by US Lacrosse.

"I'm very excited about coaching the 2003 under-19 team," said Kridel, who coached the 1999 team that won the championship in Perth, Australia, over the host Australians. "Defending a championship is more difficult than winning in the first place. The new team needs to understand all the hard work and commitment that the past team put into winning that championship."

Kridel, an assistant coach on the 1995 team, was recommended to lead the 2003 team by a selection committee. The recommendation was then approved by the US Lacrosse Women's Division Board of Governors.

"We are very excited that Wendy has accepted the mantle of head coach for the USA under-19 team," said Chip Rogers, chair of the Women's Division National Teams Committee. "Her enthusiasm and continued dedication are a great start as the USA prepares to defend the title in our own country in 2003."

Kridel is in her fifth year at Bryn Mawr, leading the Mawrtians to a 61-11-2 record and two Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM) Sinclair Division titles in that span. She has coached countless All-Americans in her ten years as a Maryland prep coach, which has included tenures at Owings Mills, Roland Park, and Towson High. Kridel played goalie at the University of Delaware.

Kridel will select an assistant coach and team manager, and she will have input on the team composition, though a formal selection process has yet to be determined.

The under-19 men's team coach will be selected by the US Lacrosse Men's Under-19 Team Competition Committee prior to Thanksgiving. The U.S. is hosting both the men's and women's under-19 world championships at Minnegan Stadium in Towson June 26—July 6, 2003.

US Lacrosse, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, is the national governing body of men's and women's lacrosse.

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