Lack of leadership, lack of resources and the pandemic all played factors in hurting the participation and success of WSU men’s lacrosse.

Bridger Rust, junior criminal justice and political science double major, joined the team when it restarted right before the pandemic. After seeing the slow regrowth of it after the pandemic, he took it upon himself to better the team.

 “It was a really slow start, we ran into a lot of issues,” Rust said.

 Rust became the president and the team captain over the summer. He found leadership for the team, coordinated the traveling logistics, ran the social media account and filled his on-field duties as player and captain. He also found a consistent coach, Shane Winkler, a senior construction management major and former lacrosse player.

 “He’s everything that we needed. We needed a coach who could come out every night, be there, have a plan, have a vision, have a structure. And Shane offers all of that,” Rust said.

Under Winkler’s coaching, the team has seen the win-loss record improve, and in games they lost, it was much closer. For example last year WSU lost 12-0 against University of Montana, whereas this year it was only 12-8, Winkler said.

 “Watching the growth has to be the most rewarding,” he said. “I could give a damn about the win-loss record. As long as the guys that are out here are putting in the work…I want to win every game, but if my guys can grow and become better and better men through that, then I’m doing my job right. Then the wins will come after that.”

 WSU is part of the Division One Pacific North West Collegiate Lacrosse League. They play schools such as UCLA and Oregon. Winkler said he goes out of his way to ensure that they play tough teams, even outside of their conference. He said the “baptism by fire” will help the team become more confident in playing them the next year.

 With only three people leaving the team this semester and eight recruits joining, Winkler is hopeful for the next season.

“It’s huge because…the returners understand like ‘hey, we’ve played some of the best teams, we know what we want to be like, we know what to strive for,” he said.