Athletes of the Week: Abby Smith, Beez Dentzer, Dennesha Rolle and Jenna Brooks

By Claire Fu

Despite the cancellation of the Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse season, senior co-captains Abby Smith, Beez Dentzer, Dennesha Rolle and Jenna Brooks keep the team connected. While the team only played together during tryouts this year, the co-captains continue the season virtually and look forward to playing lacrosse again. 

From Smith’s performance on Exeter’s team, anyone would guess she has been playing lacrosse for a long while. They would be correct: Smith has been playing lacrosse for her town's team since second grade. 

Smith’s teammates and coaches appreciate her athleticism and creativity on the field. “Abby has incredible footwork and dodging. She’s very hard to defend!” upper Marymegan Wright said.

Her abilities and impact on the other girls are highly praised by Coach Christina Breen.  “She’s a quiet leader whose example inspires her team,” Breen said. “She is unbelievably fit and dauntless in her ability to crush any kind of team fitness test.”

Due to her skill and leadership, Smith has committed to play lacrosse for Hamilton College in the coming years.  

Senior Beez Dentzer, too, has been playing lacrosse her entire life; Dentzer began the sport in third grade and has been on Exeter’s varsity team since her prep year. For Dentzer, teamwork is the most important part of lacrosse. “As a defender, my job can be sometimes thankless, but knowing that I’m protecting [my goalie] Tia and helping my team makes it all worth it,” Dentzer said.

Breen described Dentzer as a positive force for the team. “Beez loves the sport and loves the team, and this passion comes through in all of her interactions with the team,” Breen said.

“Beez is a great communicator on defense and keeps everybody on the same page,” Smith added. 

Dentzer gracefully balances lacrosse with her other passions, Wright noted. “I always see her in the field house playing wall ball. She’ll go from playing a lead role in the winter musical to starting on varsity lacrosse in spring,” she said. While Beez prepared for the lead role in the musical, she always made time to refine her lacrosse skills.

Dentzer will continue her dedication to the sport on Swarthmore College’s defense. 

After persuading her mom to give her a chance to try out lacrosse, Rolle began playing in sixth grade. Rolle’s determination is evident from her performance on the field, which has contributed significantly to the success of the team.  

Breen highlighted Rolle’s grit and determination. “Having come back from a brutal knee injury and having lost her upper season as a result, she is [still] a passionate competitor and a strong voice on the team,” Breen said.

Smith outlined Rolle as a great leader and athlete. “She works hard every practice and drill and that dedication to the team is evident on the field as she is a lockdown defender.” Smith said. “Her desire to win and be competitive inspires me to raise myself to a higher standard, and she is a great role model for younger players.” 

Beware the Weslayan’s Women’s Lacrosse team next year: Rolle has committed to play at the university. In addition to her skill, Rolle will certainly bring new levels of excitement to the team.

Brooks started playing lacrosse in sixth grade and hasn’t looked back since. “Women’s lacrosse has a real emphasis on skill because it isn’t as physical of a game as men’s lacrosse,” Brooks said.  Brook’s teammates and coaches have noticed her passion for lacrosse and care as a captain and friend. 

These glowing recommendations coincide with Brook’s emphasis as a captain: developing good team chemistry. “Brooks works hard to connect with the players personally, to show them that it's ok for a leader to be vulnerable and to show the team that hard work pays off,” Breen said. 

In addition to Brook’s teamwork, she’s also a fierce competitor on the field. Wright recalled a play from the previous season. “I’ll never forget when our team beat BB&N in overtime when Jenna absolutely ripped it from the eight meter! Jenna is an absolute sharp shooter!” Wright said.

“Jenna was a huge goal scorer for the team last year and would have been helping out in the midfield as well,” Smith said. 

Brooks will be playing for Colby College’s Women’s Lacrosse team next year and is sure to strengthen their netting. 

Coach Breen noted the variety of personalities and styles that make up the team’s leadership. “The girls are each very different kinds of people with different approaches to the sport and to their role as captains,” Breen said.

Coach Alexa Caldwell agreed, adding that all captains will “have a lot to look forward to” in their collegiate careers.

Prep Eden Welch, in her first season with the team, looks up to the Captains considerably.  “The captains always give really helpful constructive advice and create a positive and collaborative team environment,” Welch said. “They are all extremely talented lacrosse players, and this is so great because I love being able to learn and improve from them.” 

During this period of self isolation and quarantine, the co-captains have organized periodic Zoom meetings with the entire team to stay in touch. “Every week we get a new challenge that we have to complete with our designated buddy on the team,” Welch said. 

“This is a space to hold each other accountable for playing wall ball, working out, or training for another sport, just overall being active,” Smith explained. 

Whether on the field at the Academy or at home laughing over Zoom, the Captains never disappoint, Breen concluded. “They are modeling hard work, commitment to the team and staying connected during difficult times, and I am so proud of them for how they have responded to this epic disappointment,” Breen said. “Our team motto is ‘Full Fifty’ and these captains have represented this determination at every turn.”