Tanner Guarino was a Bay State Conference (BSC) all-star midfielder and a two-time state champion when she competed in lacrosse at Framingham High. She also was a key contributor in helping the University of Massachusetts to three Sweet 16 appearances in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Tournament.
The 24-year-old is no stranger to winning, and after two seasons as Holliston’s varsity lacrosse coach, she’s returning to the BSC as Natick High’s coach.
Guarino took the reins at Holliston at age 22, inheriting a team that had won only two matches. Although her two seasons as the Panthers’ coach netted only three victories in her first campaign and four in her second year, players developed a bond with Guarino, and her passion for lacrosse became contagious.
“It’s difficult leaving Holliston,’’ Guarino said. “I connected with the girls there, and even though we improved our record by a game in each of my two seasons, we were heading in the right direction. Holliston was my first varsity coaching job, but when the opportunity opened to return to the BSC, it just seemed like a good fit. Natick is a Division 1 program and plays many large schools that have established teams. I’m a native of Framingham and it’s good to be back in the league I played in.’’
Natick’s players and their parents will discover early on that Guarino, who was hired on Nov. 9, may be young but her passion and energy for lacrosse shines brightly. After being hired, she scheduled a meeting with prospective players on Nov. 21. “The meeting was to introduce myself and the coaches,’’ she noted. “About 35 girls attended and they asked questions in what was a comfortable setting.’’
Her goals for Natick’s girls are admirable. She wants her players to improve daily at practice, qualify for tourney play and advance farther than the opening round. And, down the road, she’ll be aiming for a state championship.
“At Holliston I learned that every girl relates differently to different situations,’’ she emphasized. “They have different styles of learning. I adjusted to the personnel, stayed positive, set lofty goals and tried to help the kids achieve them.’’
Guarino’s competitive practice sessions will be a clue to the style of play she admires. “I like lots of motion, ball movement, crisp passing and strong stick-work,’’ she noted. “We’ll focus on a balance of offense and defense. As a midfielder in high school and college, I know both sides of the ball. Conditioning also will be very important.’’
Guarino’s career in athletics is a study in leadership and success.
At Framingham, she was a captain in three sports (lacrosse, swimming and basketball) and she competed on three Bay State League champion swim teams and four BSC title teams in lacrosse. In lacrosse, she was a two-time BSC all-star, a Boston Globe all-scholastic and an all-American choice of the U.S. Lacrosse Association.
Guarino scored 199 goals and assisted on 105 for 304 points in her four-year career at Framingham. At UMass, she scored 99 goals, was an Atlantic 10 choice for the all-rookie team, was twice selected to the Atlantic-10 all-star team and capped her career as an all-New England selection. She also holds the record for the most games played in a career (82).
Guarino started on a state title team as a freshman and, as a senior, scored the winning goal when Framingham defeated Longmeadow, 8-7. “That was an incredible feeling,’’ she recalled. “I took a pass, got by a defender and beat the goalie with a quick wrist shot. I still remember my teammates jumping for joy. It was a great experience.’’
Guarino, who considers herself a teacher first when coaching, works as an instructor and co-owner at Gold Star Lacrosse, a club program that involves youths from Grades 4-11. She formed the program with Franklin coach Kristen Igoe, her sister-in-law.
Relying on a coaching philosophy that stresses being competitive, reaching one’s potential and enjoying the sport, Guarino also focuses on helping her lacrosse players learn life lessons. “Lacrosse can teach real-life lessons, like overcoming adversity, setting goals, relying on teamwork, understanding time management and acquiring leadership traits,’’ she emphasized.
Natick’s athletic director, Tim Collins, is delighted with Guarino’s addition and emphasized how much her passion for coaching lacrosse is admired.
“Coach Guarino has had an incredible experience as a player, as an all-American and as a four-year letter-winner at UMass,’’ said Collins. “She knows the competitive level of the Bay State Conference. She did a terrific job at Holliston getting that program going in the right direction. She is as current as anyone in the business, working with the Gold Star Lacrosse Club. But most importantly, we could see (and heard from many people) about her character and passion. We wanted our student-athletes to have the experience of working with her.’’
A communications major at UMass, Guarino, who played professional lacrosse last summer for the Boston Storm of the Women’s Professional League, is acutely aware how important that attribute can be for a coach. “What’s important is that I’m a good teacher of the sport,’’ she said. “I want our players to learn the game and love it as much as I do.’’
Tanner Guarino will be a good fit for the girls lacrosse program at Natick.
Issue Date:
February, 2017
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