This fall, Colorado Academy Athletic Director Bill Hall announced that Sonorah Hunter would join CA as Head of Program and Head Coach for Girls Lacrosse. “Sonorah’s passion for coaching, experience in playing and coaching lacrosse at a variety of levels, and ability to fully commit to the program are an excellent fit for CA,” Hall said. “I’m confident that Coach Hunter will be able to build on our tremendous success and team-over-self culture and help this program move forward.”
Former Head Coach Laura Sandbloom stepped down to move closer to family at the end of the spring 2022 season, just after she led CA’s Varsity Girls Lacrosse Team to its seventh straight State Championship title. Meeting with players on November 10, Hunter promised to continue the legacy Sandbloom helped to build over the years and to encourage athletes to be their best both on and off the field.
“Although change can be challenging,” said Hunter, “I’m looking to bring a new perspective to the team and continue to build upon the solid foundation that currently exists.”
A native of Conifer, Hunter fell in love with lacrosse in high school, and was recruited as a midfielder by the University of Denver, where she helped to lead the Division I squad to two straight Mountain Pacific Sports Federation titles. Since graduating in 2014, Hunter has coached both high school and club lacrosse, including six seasons at Columbine High School. She remains an active lacrosse player, as well, competing in the Denver women’s Ulax league.
“Developing and growing the sport of lacrosse in Colorado is something incredibly special to me,” Hunter told players. “The sport brings so many kids together. It allows us to grow individually and as a team. It takes an army to be really successful, so everyone has to do their individual job in order for us to come together. I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Hunter outlined “three Cs” she will focus on as the team looks ahead to the start of the spring season.
The first is consistency, she said. Acknowledging that many of her lacrosse players are involved in multiple sports, have numerous responsibilities at school and at home, and manage lots of important relationships, Hunter told the team, “When things get challenging, when we have too much going on, it’s important to be able to fall back on a consistent routine to manage successfully. Even practicing for 10 minutes after school can help us handle things when they’re hectic and we’re stressed out.”
The second focus is commitment. “Commitment is reflecting on yourself and asking, what do you value? What do you want to get out of the upcoming season? How can you become a better person, a better player, a better advocate for the game? It’s those values we fall back on that really drive success.”
Chemistry is the last of the three Cs. “As a team you all have incredible skills,” Hunter explained. “You’re incredible athletes, you have really good stick work. You’ve won seven state championships, right? But even if we have the talent in our back pockets, if we as a team can’t work and put those tools and talents together, it’s going to crumble and fall apart. Chemistry might mean something as simple as going out and getting coffee with teammates you’re not as familiar with; it could be doing some drills together. Whatever you do, remember that it takes the entire team to win.”
Reflecting on her professional life outside of lacrosse—Hunter serves as full-time Director of Media Enablement at a company called Adswerve, supporting clients in digital media marketing and data analytics—Hunter told her players that much of what she learned through lacrosse translates to the corporate world.
“I’m really excited to be able to share with you what I’ve learned about being successful,” she said. “The goal is for all of us, all the players and coaches, to collaborate and gain momentum that will take us through this season and beyond.”