After spending 11 years at perennial lacrosse powerhouse DeSmet as a junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant, Chris Benton decided it was time for a change.
That change has led him to Holt High School, where he now guides the Wentzville Lacrosse Club.
"I decided that it was time to find a new challenge," Benton said. "In my 11 years at DeSmet, I spent seven years as the head JV coach. My record during that time was 105-23-1. I also won four year-end JV tournaments.
"Looking at the landscape of lacrosse in Missouri, I wanted to go to a place that I could help grow the game. There are about 1,600 high school boys in the Wentzville School District, so the opportunity for growth is tremendous. I loved my time at DeSmet, but it was time to start a new chapter -- and I am very much enjoying this new challenge."
Even though Wentzville sits winless after its first two games, Benton said he expects things to change as the season goes along.
That change will come as his talented group of athletes pick up his terminology and his offensive and defensive schemes.
"Everybody is still learning the system, I would say," Benton said. "It is a change from what they've had in the past, but I have had success with it throughout the years. We've got to start somewhere. We put a decent half together (against Marquette, in a 15-5 loss Thursday). We were down 8-0 at halftime, but the second half was much better."
Benton said that the first two games are also deceiving for another reason.
In spite of giving up double-digit goal totals the first two times out, the coach said Wentzville will be strong defensively once it finds its way.
"Even though we started by giving up 13 goals and 15 goals, our strength is in the back," Benton said. "We've got three or four kids who have been strong back there. Our goalie also has been -- again, it may be hard to believe with those (goals allowed) totals -- very good. He made 20 saves (against Marquette), and 20 saves is phenomenal."
That goalie, senior Patrick Miller, has the benefit of a strong trio of defenders in front of him. That cohesion will help all three players as the season progresses.
Junior Noel Blood has led the way on defense.
On offense, Benton points to a handful of players who have stood out early and will only get better the more they play together.
Included in that group is junior Brad Fahs and senior Kirk Schneider in the midfield. Also, juniors Garth Wagner and Patrick Flynn will be counted upon to lead the offense.
"It is a learning process," Benton said. "We will all get there together. It will just take some time."
While Benton is working hard to help his team improve in the short term, he says he also has to have realistic goals for the long haul.
The postseason would be among those goals.
"The playoffs are definitely a goal for this team," Benton said. "It is just a matter of us getting up to speed. I really do believe we will be a different team than we are now in just a few weeks once everybody knows what's expected of them."
