PDS hoping to send longtime coach Thomas out with championship double
The Princeton Day School girls lacrosse team is set to begin an amazing championship journey, and at the same time one of the most accomplished coaching careers in the area is coming to a close.
Earlier this season, Jill Thomas, the Panthers’ Hall of Fame coach, announced that she’d be retiring at the end of the season and what a fitting way to cap off a great career pursuing a Prep B title and an NJSIAA Non-Public B state championship.
The ‘Thomas Title Tour’ begins Friday when the Panthers travel to Montclair-Kimberley in the Prep B final and then on Monday competes in the NJSIAA state tournament for the first time when Morris Catholic visits Smoyer Field.
“Coaching at PDS has been my life,” said Thomas. “It’s a special place and it’s a special place because of the people and the kids are a big part of that. It has been great. I have memories to last a lifetime.”
Over a span of 34 years, Thomas has coached girls basketball, field hockey and girls lacrosse. The wins and state championships are numerous and the only number that is greater is the thousands of young women’s lives she has positively affected.
This year’s team has been a special one as it has grown together and shown to be worthy of this championship run.
“I’m really happy for the girls,” said Thomas. “They have really come together. The strength of the schedule helped and it’s all very exciting right now.”
The Panthers (9-8) are led by junior Paige Gardner with 53 goals, sophomore Tessa Caputo
has 34 goals and 27 assists, senior Ali Surace has 33 goals and 19 assists and senior Elle Anhut has 26 goals and 16 assists.
“They had goals from the beginning and they stuck to them,” said Thomas. “We have been able to coach them through some challenges and still keep them believing and making sure they want to go out on top and I know the seniors do.”
It would be great to see Thomas have a most deserving finish, too.
“She’s an ambassador for the game of lacrosse and promotes the game through fair play, respect, and class for all of the age groups she coaches,” said Liz Cook, currently an assistant at Lawrenceville and a longtime Thomas assistant. “Jill is a competitor and loves to win. At her core, she believes in teaching fundamentals, creating a sense of team and camaraderie, and growth from the life lessons learned by playing sports. All successful coaches remain students of the game, and Jill has had the opportunity through her time at PDS to do just that.”
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in Thomas’ heart and it didn’t matter if it was a championship team or one that was building toward a championship.
“They are all different and all special in their own right,” said Thomas. “It’s not just about the game, I see them in the season and I see them in the halls and talk to them in the offseason.”
A coach who has always looked forward to those battles with PDS is Stuart’s Missy Bruvik.
“I have enjoyed playing against Jill in both field hockey and lacrosse for over two decades,” said Bruvik. “We have had some great battles in both state and Mercer County tournament games and I remember all of them. She is a great motivator and coach who will definitely be missed on the sidelines for her intensity and for her passionate competitive spirit.”
Ah yes, that passionate competitive spirit.
It is what drives Thomas to be the best teacher, mentor, person and coach she can be and it is a great trait that she has instilled in each of her teams.
“It has been great and when I get where I am going next maybe I’ll sit back and reflect,” said Thomas. “I cherish so many of the people and the things that have meant so much.”