Our Coaches
"The coaches are unique. They empower the girls to do their best. They are cohesive in their approach, each carrying through the mission of the program."
- Loyal LIFT Parent
Directors
Lauren Bailey
Lauren started playing field hockey in 7th grade at University School of Milwaukee. After playing for six years through high school and graduating with a Bachelor’s degree at The University of Wisconsin - Madison, Lauren returned home to Milwaukee and began coaching high school field hockey in 2008. She coached at USM for three years and at Divine Savior Holy Angels for five years as a JV Head Coach.
She coached at the club level for five years at Lake Country Field Hockey during both the winter and summer seasons. She has also earned a Level 1 Coaching Certification in field hockey from USA Field Hockey.
Lauren is so excited to continue her coaching career with LIFT FH. She has always strived to find a balance using field hockey to improve skills both on and off the field.
Favorite Movie: Princess Bride - it doesn't mean what you think it means.
Favorite Milwaukee Eatery: Bel Air - see you at Taco Tuesday!
Favorite Vacation: Anywhere with fun and sun!
Morgan Oldenburg
Morgan started playing in 8th grade and played through high school at the University School of Milwaukee, earning team captain, all-state midfielder, and helping her team win the State Championship in 2000 and 2001. She also attended the Northwestern University Camp, traveled with an elite team from across the US, and participated in the regional USA FH Futures program in Illinois during the offseason.
While in high school, Morgan began and ran the first Wisconsin summer field hockey camp for middle school girls, helping develop basic skills and team concepts in 7th and 8th graders. After earning a Bachelor’s degree at Tufts University in 2006, she returned to Milwaukee to coach at the high school level. She coached at USM for 5 years and at DSHA for 6 years as the Head Varsity Coach and Program Director.
She also has been a coach for the National Futures Program, a Head Coach for Winter and Spring Leagues as well as Summer Camps for Lake Country Field Hockey, and has earned a Level 1 Coaching Certification in field hockey and coaching accreditation with the National Federation of State High School Associations.
In coaching year-round club and off season play, Morgan enjoys developing her coaching style into one that is both nurturing and challenging, attentive and dedicated to improvement in all aspects of the game.
Favorite Movie: Beauty and the Beast. It's the inside that counts.
Favorite Milwaukee Eatery: anywhere new!
Favorite Vacation: Up North
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Both Lauren and Morgan have always incorporated team building and fitness into their teams’ practices and major coaching philosophies. Recognizing this unique approach helps develop not only team chemistry, but
individual confidence and playing abilities, and seeing the need for such an opportunity for girls all year round, they are starting LIFT FH to benefit all field hockey players in the Milwaukee area and draw new players into the sport and the tradition that surrounds it.
Coaches
Shannon Dwyer
Arrowhead High School '22, Central Michigan University
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Shannon started playing field hockey her freshman year of high school at Arrowhead high school. She started her first year on the Varsity Reserve team, then her last three years on the Varsity team. She earned 2nd team All Conference for defense her sophomore year and 1st team All Conference defense her junior and senior years, as well as being a Co-Captain for both years. Shannon played for Milwaukee Field Hockey Club her sophomore year and did practices with both LIFT and Windy City Field Hockey Club her junior and senior year of high school. She traveled a lot through high school playing on house teams at recruiting tournaments and as an individual player at many showcases.
Shannon is currently playing on the Division 1 Central Michigan University field hockey team where she plays as both a defender and a forward. She is studying Neuroscience and Spanish in a Pre-Medicine program with the intent to go to medical school. She now coaches with LIFT when she’s back home from school and can’t wait to meet and work with all of the athletes!
Favorite movie: How to Train Your Dragon
Favorite Milwaukee Eatery: any Italian restaurant!
Favorite Vacation: New York City
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Marina Evert
Arrowhead '22, Lindenwood University, Mercyhurst University
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Marina started playing field hockey her junior year of high school at Arrowhead High School. Marina had a background of playing ice hockey and soccer growing up and along with her focus, that allowed her to quickly pick up the game of field hockey. She started her first year on the varsity reserve team, and earned her spot on Varsity senior year. She earned 1st Team Offense All Conference honors her senior year. Marina practiced with LIFT throughout her high school career.
Marina then went on to play Division 1 field hockey for 2 years at Lindenwood University. In her freshman season at Lindenwood Marina was second on the team with 6 goals and third overall with 14 points. Marina will continue playing Division 1 field hockey at Mercyhurst University in Fall 2024. She is studying biochemistry. She is very excited to be working with LIFT again this summer!
Favorite movie: Miracle
Favorite Milwaukee Eatery: Chipotle :)
Favorite Vacation: Florida
Lauren Griswold - "Coach Gris"
Arrowhead High School, Washington & Jefferson College
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Coach Gris started field hockey with Lake Country Field Hockey Club in elementary school. When high school came around, Gris declared that she was a goalie through and through. While in high school, Gris played for her high school and Milwaukee Field Hockey Club. She was fortunate enough to travel for many, many tournaments all across the US. During Gris' senior year of high school, and continued her field hockey career at Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. She coached with LIFT throughout college whenever she came home. During college, the W&J field hockey team won their conference championship and entered the NCAA Division Three tournament twice!
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Now graduated and back home, Coach Gris continues to coach with LIFT. Unfortunately, a few too many concussions now prevent Coach Gris from putting on the pads, but she has found a love of playing field and motivating young players to find their love of field hockey both on the field and in the goal.
Favorite Movie: The Secret Life of Pets
Favorite Milwaukee Eatery: Leff's Lucky Town
Favorite Vacation: Budapest, Hungary
Elyse Horner
University Lake School '20, Ball State University '24​
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Elyse started playing hockey in third grade at University Lake School. She began competing on national level with the Milwaukee Field Hockey Club in 6th grade and in high school joined the Windy City Field Hockey Club’s elite travel team which was ranked #2 in the country.
During Elyse’s high school career playing for University Lake School she was named the team’s most valuable player her sophomore through senior year and was also the team’s captain her junior and senior year.Elyse participated in the USA Field Hockey’s Futures program and was selected to represent Region 10 in the National Futures Tournament where she earned the Barbara Longstreth sportsmanship award.
Elyse recently earned a BS in Sports Business and Administration from Ball State University where she was a 4 year member of their D1 field hockey team.
While a student athlete at BSU, Elyse served on the leadership team for the University’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
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Favorite Movie: Despicable Me
Favorite Milwaukee Eatery: Cafe Benelux
Favorite Vacation: Cayman Islands
Jen Jones
Jen started playing field hockey in 9th grade in Baltimore, MD. Jen played four years at the varsity level at Parkville High School, becoming a starter during her sophomore year and earning the captain title and first-team all-conference defense honor during her senior year in 2010.
Jen continued on to play field hockey at the club level in college at University of North Carolina Wilmington from 2011-2014.
After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from UNCW, she returned home to Baltimore to pursue a Master’s Degree in Social Work. After completing graduate school she moved to Wisconsin in the summer of 2016.
Jen began coaching at Arrowhead High School at the JV level in Fall 2017 and fell in love with it! Winter 2017 was her first season with LIFT and she is excited to continue to grow the sport and help the next generation of field hockey players develop the drive, passion, and love for the game she has come to know.
Favorite Movie: All 8 Harry Potter movies - * yer a wizard Harry *
Milwaukee Eatery: Café Benelux for breakfast & Bel Air for dinner
Favorite Vacation: Outer Banks, NC
Kali Kiekow
Divine Savior Holy Angels High School '24, Marquette University
Kali started playing field hockey in 6th grade at LIFT! She was a part of year round play through middle school and then earned a spot on the DSHA Varsity Reserve team her freshman year in high school. She continued to play for LIFT on Festival, NIT, and many other travel teams and continued at DSHA on the Varsity Team, earning a State Championship as a midfielder.
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Kali has been coaching the U6 & U8 LIFT players since her little sister joined the Belugas in 2017 and will continue to impart her vast field hockey knowledge on LIFT's youngest players as a Beluga Coach.
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Favorite Movie: Little Women (2019)
Milwaukee Eatery: Café Benelux
Favorite Vacation: Sedona, AZ
Janna Lieungh
Janna started playing field hockey in 7th grade at LIFT! After playing for six years through high school, Janna began attending the University of Milwaukee to get her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and has continued coaching with LIFT. She began helping with the Belugas, Right Whales, and Narwhals and began full time coaching in the 2020-2021 indoor season.
Janna is so excited to continue with field hockey in coaching with LIFT FH. She has always appreciated the lessons and behaviors she learned and developed in LIFT practices, as she was able to apply them to her life outside of practices. She also strongly believes in using fitness to contribute to positive mental health, and she hopes to share this with the team.
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Favorite Movie: Coach Carter
Milwaukee Eatery: Screaming Tuna (absolutely the best)
Favorite Vacation: Scottsdale, Arizona
Madison McFadden
University Lake School, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
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Madison started playing field hockey in 6th grade at University Lake School in Hartland, Wisconsin. She played in numerous elite programs, including traveling with the Wisconsin Select U14 and U16 teams to the national Disney Field Hockey showcase for 3 years. She started on the Varsity team her sophomore year of high school, and by senior year she was named a co-captain of the Varsity team. She currently is attending University Wisconsin - Milwaukee.
In 2014 - 2015, Madison was the Co-Head Coach of Varsity Field Hockey at University Lake School. Here she truly found her passion for coaching. Madison also coached basketball for elementary and middle school girls at University Lake School. She is excited to coach year-round with the LIFT FH team and help grow the AMAZING sport of field hockey!
Favorite Movie: The Dark Knight Rises
Milwaukee Eatery: Swig
Favorite Vacation: Northern Wisconsin in the summer time
Maredithe Meyer
Maredithe started as a new player to field hockey her freshman year at Divine Savior Holy Angels. She was JV team co-captain her sophomore year and helped her team win the JV State Championship. Maredithe was an off-season varsity co-captain her junior year and played on the Varsity level her senior year. At the end of the season, she earned conference honorable mention. Maredithe participated in Futures through USA Field Hockey and numerous off-season opportunities such as Lake Country Spring League and Northwestern Field Hockey Camp.
Maredithe graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Journalism and started coaching for Divine Savior Holy Angels in 2014. She has been a part of LIFT since our first season in Winter 2015 and enjoys taking her love for coaching to the next level by coaching players of all ages and skill levels. She is so excited to be a part of LIFT FH and hopes she can help girls develop their self-confidence and love for the game. Maredithe wants to continue to develop her coaching style and learn more ways to incorporate fun and fitness while developing skills on and off the field.
Favorite Movie: Forest Gump - everyone has a story to tell if you take the time to listen.
Favorite Milwaukee Eatery: Beans and Barely - their burritos never disappoint.
Favorite Vacation: Kiawah Island, SC with my family.
University School of Milwaukee '18, University of Wisconsin - Madison '22
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Maddie started playing in middle school at University School of Milwaukee and quickly found her strength on defense. She started playing with LIFT and continued to excel on defense through high school, coining "the Maddie" by carrying the ball against the sideline all the way up to the attacking side and causing her teammates to do many star jumps for not being able to stop or receive her powerful 16 yard hits.
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Maddie continued her education and field hockey career at the University of Wisconsin - Madison where she played for the club for 2 years and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Psychology with an Athletic Healthcare Minor. Maddie works as a paramedic and is attending Marquette to earn her MSN.
Maddie Meinecke
Amanda Roessler
Brookfield Academy '20, Swarthmore College '24
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Amanda started playing field hockey in 7th grade and played through high school at Brookfield Academy, helping her team earn State Championships in 2018 and 2019. Amanda also played for Milwaukee Field Hockey Club's indoor and outdoor travel teams through highschool.
Amanda continued playing field hockey at Swarthmore College, where she helped her team reach a national top 25 ranking for the first time in two decades and served as team captain in her senior year. Having moved back to Wisconsin following her graduation, Amanda is excited to continue coaching with the other LIFT coaches.
Favorite Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Milwaukee Eatery: The Explorium
Favorite Vacation: Rome, Italy
Lana Stone
University School of Milwaukee '22, Kenyon College
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Lana started playing field hockey in 7th grade at USM, and began with LIFT right after her first fall season. She grew from a shy defender to an unmatched leader and attacker in her time with LIFT, and was an integral part of every team she joined from Festival to NITs to 7v7s and everything in between. Lana loved her time with LIFT, and didn’t take one season off from 7th grade to her senior year of high school. During that time she served the role of captain for several tournaments and traveled with LIFT across the midwest, east and south and was named as a USA Field Hockey Festival All-Star in her junior year. Lana guest played for College Connection Tournaments and participated in the USA Field Hockey Nexus program for three years. Lana played field hockey at USM in both middle school and high school. She was named Most Valuable Player for USM’s JV Team her freshman year and received an Honorable Mention from the WHSFHA in her junior year. In her senior year Lana earned the role of captain, leading the team to the state championship in 2022. Lana was also given the Tessa Nowakowski Sportsmanship Award and was named to the WHSFHA First Team in her final season with USM.
Lana has been continuing her career at Kenyon College, where she is currently studying Anthropology and Art History, where she hopes to one day work in the museum field! On the field, she has helped KCFH score game-winning goals against Denison and Washington and Jefferson. She was named to the NFHCA All-Academic Squad and was also given the title of NFHCA Scholar of Distinction for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Lana is so excited to give back the LIFT community which has fed her love of field hockey from the start!
Favorite Movie: Legally Blonde
Favorite Milwaukee Eatery: FreshFin Poke
Favorite Vacation: Italy with her mom!
Madison Thoeodre "Coach Teddy"
La Costa Canyon High School, University of California - Davis
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Coach Teddy is new to Wisconsin, having moved all the way from California. A native of San Diego, she has been playing field hockey for 14 years. She played for her hometown club RUSH and La Costa Canyon High School. She also participated in the USAFH Futures Program, and played in numerous NFCs and YWNCs.
Coach Teddy went on to play Division 1 Field Hockey at the University of California, Davis. An attacker at heart, her favorite skills are the reverse hit and 1v1 shoot outs. Teddy looks forward to working with LIFT and helping develop the future of Wisconsin field hockey!
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In her free time, Teddy enjoys lifting, skiing, and tending to her houseplants.
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