From Teammates to Coaches: Lower School Lacrosse Coaches Share Special Bond

OES Lower School lacrosse coaches Kristen Zimmer and Lana Weber share more than just a love of the game. They share a decades-long connection rooted in sport, friendship, and a deep commitment to youth development.

“We actually played against each other in high school,” said Zimmer, a third grade teacher at OES. “I was in Alexandria, Virginia, and Lana played in Annapolis, Maryland. Then, by total coincidence, we both ended up playing Division I lacrosse together at Dartmouth.” Weber mentioned, “It was also a family affair of sorts because I played with Kristen’s older sister, and my younger sister was in Kristen’s class. College sports teams often feel like family, but for us it actually was!” 

Their college years were marked by intensity and achievement. “We played in NCAA tournaments together and won two Ivy League Championships as teammates,” Zimmer recalled. “It was an incredible experience—competitive, intense, and full of pride. Being part of something like that, with Lana, really shaped how I think about teamwork and leadership.” Weber added, “I think an experience like that gets rooted deeply within you. It feels like one of those rare, special opportunities to now be able to share that with our girls and the school community.” 

Years later, life brought them both to Portland and unexpectedly back into each other’s lives. “We reconnected at OES, where Lana’s daughter, Ingrid, is now in my third grade class,” Zimmer said. “Lana’s younger daughter, Elise, and my daughter, Noa, are also in the same first grade class, and Ingrid and my daughter, Leila, are now teammates on the lacrosse team. With our kids growing up and playing together, the connection has grown in a really meaningful way and it’s made coaching together even more special.”

After serving as assistant coaches last season, Zimmer and Weber stepped up to co-lead the OES third and fourth grade girls team this spring, blending their college-level experience with a supportive, skills-based approach to coaching young athletes. “We focus on the foundational skills,” Weber explained. “We spend a lot of time on cradling, catching and throwing, and ground balls because these are skills everyone needs to play the game. And we are able to give kids individual attention and encouragement when needed.”

Their coaching philosophy is rooted in growth, confidence, and fun. “As young kids, they can do a lot more than you think,” Weber said. “They love learning about the game and they soak it up like sponges.” Weber also highlighted the empowering nature of the sport. “What I like about sports for girls, too, is that it’s a place where you can be aggressive, which girls are often told implicitly or explicitly not to be,” she added. “You can also be creative and try things out.” The team aims to support this sort of risk-taking and learning from experience. 

Earlier this month, the team traveled to Sisters, Oregon, to compete in the 2025 Sisters Annual Lacrosse Invitational (SALI)—marking the first time OES has sent a third/fourth grade girls team to the tournament. “We finished in third place, and the girls played their hearts out,” said Zimmer. “They grew as players, had a blast, and truly came together as a team—it was a weekend to remember.”

For Zimmer and Weber, coaching together at OES has felt like a full-circle moment—one shaped by shared history, a love of the game, and a deep investment in the next generation of athletes. “Coaching with Lana has been such a joy,” Zimmer said. “We know each other’s rhythms, we trust each other, and we bring the same values to the field: hard work, love for the game, and belief in these girls. Getting to coach together, alongside our daughters and students, has been incredible.” The two former teammates-turned-coaches are already looking forward to more seasons ahead.