Editor’s note: The Orange County Register is having the area’s spring sports coaches take part in a Q&A about the 2020 season that was cut short by the coronavirus crisis.

Michael Welter, San Juan Hills girls lacrosse

Q: How did you adapt to being home every day during the spring?

A: As lacrosse is considered a Physical Education class at San Juan Hills, I have “adapted” by setting up a Google Classroom complete with daily workouts that the athletes can do from home, although it doesn’t really replace the “on-field” instruction and team-chemistry component of a team sport.

Q: As a coach, what do you miss most about your “normal routine” (pre-coronavirus)?

A: The interaction with the athletes. The constant struggle between failing and then succeeding. The preparation for game day.

Q: When you think about your team these days, what stands out the most?

A: We were getting better with each week’s practice and subsequently were competing better each game (we were 5-1 going into league play when COVID-19 hit).

Q: As a coach, what has been the worst moment for you this spring and why?

A: The seniors not being able to finish what they started. I have a “senior-led” team this year, both on offense and defense, and they were really starting to lead and mentor the younger (players) and the whole team was getting better because of the seniors. We couldn’t do senior night and we couldn’t highlight them at the year-end banquet (because neither event took place).

Q: And what has been the best moment for you this spring and why?

A: The overtime victory (and somewhat upset) over Los Alamitos. This was the first win in program history over Los Alamitos and the way the team played that night was a complete team effort. It was a great game that went back and forth and both teams had some shots go their way and some that didn’t.

Q: If you could play one game tomorrow, what would that look like?

A: We would love to have played a South Coast League game. The opponent wouldn’t have mattered as much, but being in such a tough league (Trabuco Hills, Aliso Niguel, San Clemente and Tesoro) and we were playing really well, I would have liked to see what these league games would have looked like.

Q: What do you want your players to learn from all of this?

A: That life throws you “curve balls.” To play every practice and game like it was your last, because someday it WILL be your last and hopefully you’re happy with your effort. I’m not sure young athletes realize that this will all end some day and they usually don’t get to choose the “expiration date.”

Q: For fun, which player(s) on your team made you laugh the most?

A: Ainsley Maynard.