Let's get better.

Starting right now!

College Presidents! 

Thank you for your time.


15-minute time-breakdown
2-3 minutes of "stickwork"
3-5 minutes of catching and throwing
5-6 minutes of interviewing

Interview questions: 
1. Did you play sports in high school?
2. What's it like being a college President?
3. Where do you get your confidence from? 
4. What made The BOOM Lab! an event you were pumped to host at your college?
5. What do you think is the coolest thing about your school our players should be looking to experience when they are on campus?

We'll take B roll and put together and send the video your way before posting.

 

Right now is the best time. 

Huddle up:


We are experiencing more stress and anxiety than ever before. This turns into self-doubt and a lack of confidence, which impairs our self-image and wellness.
Cultural and societal pressures compound the challenges through pervasive social media, and so, girls are struggling with the stress of school, college selection process, and extra-curricular responsibilities.

Furthermore, female athletes are also burdened by performance pressure and the stress of college recruiting. 
Brave programming enables female athletes to manage external and internal pressures in an increasingly difficult environment to support their performance and growth athletically, academically and emotionally.
The BOOM Lab! gathers lax girls together - in community and on a team - to acknowledge fear and activate bravery in order to improve their game and CRUSH their life!

The BOOM Lab! TRAINING PROGRAM

Though we want you to have fun, it is important for you to know that we think hard is fun. We know that fear can be fun. And, we believe that knowing your truth leads to confidence. SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT is a way to starting organizing all the stuff that goes into living a big, fun, hard, scary, brave and confident life.

DOWNLOAD TRAINING PROGRAM >

Camp locations and daily flow.

Each day is hosted on a different college campus, giving athletes exposure to multiple environments while building skills progressively.

DAY 1

St. Catherine University

2004 Randolph Avenue St. Paul, MN 55105

Develop foundation of confidence, establish teammate connections, and explore competitive awareness

8-4pm • Grass field • Pool workout • Tour

DAY 2

Macalester College

1600 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55105

Integrate fear and pressure into brave decision-making with repetitive practice performing under stress

8-4pm • Turf • Track & lifting workout • Tour
*[optional] 7am extra practice time

DAY 3

Hamline University

1536 Hewitt Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104

Self-talk roots in identity work and translates to field play, leadership styles practiced, and joy is in the work

 8-4pm • Turf field • Yoga workout • Tour
*[optional] 7am extra practice time

Activators

Our staff includes multiple former D1 players and coaches, many of whom are from nontraditional lacrosse-playing areas like Minnesota. We will practice at a high-intensity akin to the college pace, giving players a chance to build confidence.
Crista Samaras
Head Coach

Crista founded Brave in 2016 to research how athletes use fear. She's a 3x All-American and 2x Player of the Year at Princeton, played in two World Cup Championships (gold + silver), and was named USA Lacrosse's inaugural Legacy Award winner and was inducted into the USA Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2026.

Earlier, she founded and sold XTEAM, a national club program for girls from non-traditional lacrosse areas.


 

Jasmine Henry
Camp Ops

Jasi Henry played lacrosse at Northwestern University and before that, for Crista on her club team. Jasi is our VP of Operations at Brave Enterprises, and lives in Ft. Lauderdale with her husband Tray, and their brand new baby Zion.

Jasi was formerly a college counselor with Command Education, specializing in developing executive function and entrepreneurial skillsets in teens.





Michele Ruth
College Specialist

Michele Ruth played and coached lacrosse and field hockey at Lehigh University. She coached New Zealand in the 2017 World Cup, and owns Barefoot Lacrosse, working with players from all over the US, Canada, NZ and England.

She is a chemical engineer and hydrogeologist, passionate about helping players find a great college fit, using her decades-long expertise as an industry-wide consultant to individuals and various organizations.

Michele lives and surfs in Florida, and is most likely barefoot. 

Jess Thornton
Mental Health

Jess Thornton was a 4-year starter and Defensive Player of the Year at James Madison. She spent over a decade coaching and mentoring young women across the country alongside Crista Samaras, witnessing firsthand the transformative power of connection in shaping confident, resilient leaders—on and off the field.

Jess is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is excited to return to Brave to continue empowering adolescents and teens as they step into their full potential. She lives in Chattanooga with her husband and three kiddos. 

 

Tracy Zimmer
Athletic Performance

Tracy Zimmer, MS, RSCC*D, MSCC, USAW, USATF, CES, FMS, is the Associate Director
Athletic Performance at the University of Florida where she is responsible for lacrosse,
men’s/women’s swimming.diving. She served as an adjunct professor from 2022-23.

Previously, Zimmer worked 2019 NFL Training Camp with the Atlanta Falcons and coached at the University of Pennsylvania.

In 2010, Zimmer earned her BS in Kinesiology from Temple where she played women's lacrosse team and was 2x captain. 

Zimmer has competed in powerlifting and holds the Pennsylvania state squat record (182.5kg).

Molly McNeil
Movement & Yoga

Molly is a Minneapolis-based yoga teacher. She is rooted in power vinyasa yoga. Her signature style blends breath, strength in an intelligently sequenced physical practice. She teaches with the goal of helping students be fully present by building strength, resilience, and calm they can carry off the mat.

Molly has taught in the Twin Cities since 2012 and is known for creating a warm, supportive space that welcomes all levels.

Her classes emphasize working “hard and smart,” meeting you where you are, and leaving you clearer, steadier, and more at home in your body.

 

Sarah Fish
Personal Brand

“Fish" grew up in Vermont determined to learn and master lacrosse long before it was widely available to girls in her area. She played for Crista at XTEAM, the same community where Brave programming first began, and eventually earned offers to play at the Division I level. During college, she coached with XTEAM, sharing her love for the game and mentoring younger players.

Fish has been involved with Brave since its inception—interning, marketing, sales, and program delivery—wearing many hats along the way. Her favorite role is activating Brave sessions and seeing the program’s impact in real time.

By day, Fish leads the Sales & Marketing team for a Microsoft partner in Denver, CO. Outside of work, Fish is happiest outdoors: playing with her dog, skiing, mountain biking, rollerblading—just about anything that gets her in the sunshine..

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