VSP Spotlight – APEX Freshman Select All-American – Sophia Coffman
This week’s VSP spotlight shines on Sophia Coffman. Sophia, a VSP Fishkill regular, is one of the most talented young lacrosse players we currently have the pleasure of coaching. The Wappingers Titans (JJEF) star has been a varsity starter since the 8th grade, while being a big part of her team’s trip to the Section 1 Class A championship game.
On the club front, Sophia plays for both the Predators Lacrosse Club & grew up playing for the Wappinger Warriors Youth Lacrosse programs & has seen an enormous amount of success during her recruiting showcases & tournaments.
Sophia is a super advanced player for her age & was recently named as an Apex Freshman Select All American! More than anything… skill or success on the field… she is simply put one of the most dedicated & hard working athletes we work with.
Let’s dive into it & hear it from Sophia’s coaches!
Coach Corrine Badger:
“At Velocity, Sophia is always one of the hardest workers in her group. Her achievements on the field are no shock, as she comes in always looking to get better. She is a student of her craft and it has been reflecting on the field. Sophia is the type of athlete you look forward to training because she wants to be pushed and challenged to reach her highest ability.”
Coach Angelo Vokolos:
“Sophia has become a regular at the gym since I’ve been here, and her dedication is truly impressive. What impresses me the most is her intrinsic motivation. She truly understands that you get out of it what you put into it, and that’s something that she lives and breathes every day. She has completely bought into our philosophy and culture, and the difference it’s making for her is clear. It’s because of the intensity that she brings to every drill that she’s been able to cut 0.3 seconds off her 10-yard Burst and almost half a second off her 30 yard shuttle. That difference is clear when watching her go through any drill. While her quickness and reaction times have improved significantly over the last 12 months, the difference it’s made to her play on the field can’t be ignored. On top of that, she is a natural when it comes to movement and athleticism, and she continues to refine those gifts with hard work and discipline. Sophia’s growth is a clear reflection of her commitment, and it’s been inspiring to watch her set the standard for what it means to be a VSP athlete.”
Metric Improvement:
In addition to the improvements Coach Angelo mentioned such as linear acceleration & lateral COD, we also saw improvements in Sophia’s lower body power output.
With all of these improvements, Sophia finds herself the 99th, 96th, 99th, 98th, & 98th percentile for girls her age in the 10 YD Burst, 30 YD Shuttle, Vertical Jump, Triple Jump, & Broad Jump respectively.
As both Coach Corrine & Angelo mentioned, her newfound acceleration, better COD, & increased lower body power has allowed Sophia to tear it up on the field.
Just The Beginning
This is just the beginning for Sophia. Her hard work & dedication are unmatched & do not go unnoticed. Not by her coaches, trainers, peers, & competitors. She is one of the brightest young lacrosse prospects on & off the field & we can’t wait to see her continue to progress!
Keep it up Sophia!
Written By:
Jake Lebovitch – Assistant Director of Performance & Content Manager
Corrine Badger – Performance Coach
Angelo Vokolos – Performance Coach