Fetter looks to be a consistent leader for Hollis Brookline girls lacrosse

It was a bit of a strange start to the season for CeCe Fetter.

The Hollis Brookline High School senior not only entered the spring as the lone returning girls lacrosse player from her class, but for her four years on varsity, there has only been one constant – her.

Fetter, who played regularly on the varsity as a freshman, has had a different coach every year during her time with the Cavaliers.

But neither she, nor first-year head coach Jim Maxwell, view that as a negative.

"This year has been very different," Fetter said. "I’m the only senior coming back on varsity. I’ve had a new coach every year of high school. As a second-year captain, I’m leading the team. It’s very weird, but I’ve become very good friends with the underclassmen. I’ve grown up with them playing lacrosse, it’s comfortable."

For Maxwell, who was an assistant coach with the Cavs last season and who coached Fetter at the youth level in Hollis, having her back this year has been invaluable.

"She sets the tone by example, from how to hard to work, how to practice, and that has definitely rubbed off on the other girls," he said. "The other captains have a lot of the qualities that she has because she has taught them, this is how we behave on the field.

"It’s tough because she has had four different culture changes in the last four years. She has been the only consistency in this program for four years. That’s tough on a kid to do, but she has done a great job of it."

Fetter first became interested in lacrosse when she participated in a clinic that featured both lacrosse and field hockey. While she came away having no interest in playing field hockey, Fetter started to play lacrosse more after that.

"I had always played soccer a lot and in middle school, it kind of clicked," she said. "Lacrosse is such a fast-paced game. I liked the fact you could go fast. I was definitely better at lacrosse, so I liked it more."

During middle school, Fetter bounced around from position to position, but didn't find a spot that fit just right. During the preseason as a freshman, former HB coach Jack Taber stuck Fetter in on the draw for the first time.

"I had never taken a draw before, and (former coach Jack Taber) put me in and it clicked," she said. "I’ve always taken the draw since. I’ve learned to use different techniques on different girls and change it up. It’s kind of a mind game, too. You can move girls around the draw to where you want them. You have to see what the other girl is doing and change your positioning based on where they are taking the draw."

With a younger team returning, Maxwell is glad to have a senior with Fetter's experience who is able to take most of the draws for HB.

"It’s probably one of the most important aspects of the game is that draw," the coach said. "To have somebody like her, and a couple of other girls who are midfielders for us, who all work at doing the draw, I think that’s just as important. CeCe has done a fantastic job of not just taking the draw, doing the right thing around the circle is just as important."

While Fetter is focused on helping the Cavs get back to the playoffs - HB qualified last season in its first year in Division II, but lost in the quarterfinals - there's also excitement to know she'll continue her playing career beyond high school at Pace University in New York City.

"Even in the youth (program), I’ve been able to see her grow and develop into the player that she is now," Maxwell said. "She has had a gradual progression. She did GSE. She worked year-round on her skill and that’s why she’s going to Pace University. She doesn’t have many flaws that she really needs to work on."