By Chris Goldberg
TopLaxRecruits.com, Posted 12/5/13

Brooke Kuhl-McClelland’s contract as head girls’ lacrosse at St. Paul’s School for Girls (MD) was not renewed despite leading the Gators to their first IAAM championship game appearance in seven years.

Kuhl-McClelland took a young team at St. Paul’s and saw her Gators (13-5) give National champion McDonogh a major challenge before losing, 11-8, in the IAAM title game. St. Paul’s went 32-21 in her three years in Brooklandville and finished the 2013 as the No. 14 team in the TopLaxRecruits.com Rankings.

Calls to St. Paul’s School were not returned. Kuhl-McClelland said no reasons were given for letting her go.

“I have great memories of the 2013 season, including a thrilling overtime victory over NDP, a feat that hadn’t occurred since 2006,” said Kuhl-McClelland. “The team then beat Bryn Mawr for the first time since 2007, and found themselves garnering national attention which showed by their consistent rise in the polls.

“The entire coaching staff and players were working hard on developing a championship caliber program. I’m very proud of the way that we emerged in the 2013 season and I’m feeling exactly like our seniors motto for the season, ‘leave your legacy’ inspired by future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, who actually sent us a personal video to inspire us in the championship final!”

Kuhl-McClelland, who also has been coaching in the powerful M&D Club program, is also known for guiding Mt. Hebron to a national-record tying 103 straight wins. That streak lasted several years, ending in 2007. She also won six state titles and compiled a 152-15 record at Mt. Hebron. She was coach there for nine years (and two more as an assistant). The 103-game win streak ties Loch Raven for the all-time mark, but will be threatened this year by McDonogh School (currently with 91 straight wins).

Kuhl-McClelland, who credits husband and assistant coach Tommy for sharing in her success at both schools, is coming off ACDF (Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion) back surgery, the same surgery Peyton Manning underwent. She plans to return to her job as head of the dance program at Hammond High soon.

“At this point, I’m going to take a sabbatical from coaching lacrosse, both club and high school,” she said. “I’m going to focus on my recovery process from ACDF surgery and then possibly go throw a few footballs… Watch out Peyton!”