IT’S NOT UNCOMMON TO MEET your future spouse where you work, particularly if you share a common interest… like sports.
Well, that’s what happened when Lindsey LeMay met Matt Majkrzak when both were hired as coaches at NMU in the fall of 2019. LeMay signed on to take over the Women’s Lacrosse program while Majkrzak (we’ll just call him Matt) was hired as Northern’s 15th basketball coach.
Neither were very familiar with the surroundings, but as they fell for each other, they also fell for their new home. “We love Marquette,” says Matt. “We both moved here without ever having been to the UP. We met here in our first couple of weeks and 6 years later we are married. We’ve formed great friendships and relationships with so many in the community.”
Lindsey agrees. “We love the lake and the landscape, but the community is what is really special. People truly care here, and I don’t think a lot of places can say that.”
Their appreciation for the area is evidenced by the fact they’re pretty visible around town… when they’re not with their teams, that is. Coaching on a collegiate level is pretty much 24-7-365, but successful coaches learn how to strike a balance. And assuming records don’t lie, both Matt and Lindsey (seen above) are building successful careers.
Roundball Success
Like a lot of college coaches, Matt bounced around at a few different programs before landing here for the 2019-20 season. The Cats were 13-17 that year, but have quickly established themselves as a GLIAC power, winning the league’s Tournament Championship this year, and reaching the Division II NCAA Tournament for the third straight year.
The Cats will tip off their March Madness as they face familiar rival Michigan Tech Saturday at 1pm in Springfield, Illinois. With recent tournament experience under their belts, expectations change. “Doing it three years in a row,” says Coach Matt, “I think we have a deeper appreciation for how different these games can be, and that we are fighting the finality of a season. Our major goal is to extend the season as long as possible.”
With a spanking new gym and record of recent success, Northern’s basketball program looks to be in good shape. A nice run in the tournament would help keep the ball rolling. Tomorrow’s game will be broadcast on 100.3 The Point.
For the Love of the Game
Coach Lindsey’s lacrosse team continues to improve as last season saw them reach their second consecutive GLIAC Championship appearance, winning a program high 14 games.
Without the attention common to other programs, Lindsey finds professional fulfillment in her player’s development, on and off the field. “The obvious satisfaction would be the improvement of my program over the past 6 years–the win/loss record and the accolades–but it’s more than that. Watching the people in the program mature and change throughout their careers is the most satisfying thing. I get to see so many young women become successful adults, and each one has impacted me in their own way.”
Lindsey competed in lacrosse at the Division 1 level at the University of Oregon, but that career veered off course a little, so she changed fields and took her talents to soccer, basketball, and rowing. “I came back to the world of lacrosse after college with the goal of being the coach I needed when I was a student athlete. My enthusiasm for the sport comes from the people, and the impact a team can have on a life.”
Still in their regular season, the NMU Women’s Lacrosse team, currently 4-2, hosts Lewis University tomorrow (Saturday) at noon at the Superior Dome. There is no charge for admission.
A Coaching Couple
If you were paying close attention, you may have noticed both Matt and Lindsey’s teams will be in action tomorrow at just about the same time. “With all the travel for both of us,” Matt says, “we’ve been in the same house three nights over the course of 20 days.” Their dog Ralph, still undefeated, probably wonders what he got himself into. Now where are they going?
Though their records won’t be shared, according to Lindsey, they still work as a team. “I feel very fortunate to have had Matt as a resource and a support system. I know first-hand how much of himself he’s given to the program and the tireless hours he’s worked to make them great. I think, despite how different we are both in our coaching styles and as people, we do get a little more alike every year due to each other’s influence.”
Matt concurs. “When I’m not coaching basketball, I’m the world’s biggest NMU Lacrosse fan. I think it’s more that we want to succeed for each other, and that I really enjoy when I get the opportunity to brag about how good she is. And she’s fantastic!”
More Words on the Street
Garbage
A change is coming to our garbage and recycling pickup routine. Some will welcome the move to daytime pickup, with the thought of being able to sleep through their designated night without the silence shattering interruptions of big trucks making big noise.
But… and there’s always a but, daytime pickup will require some adjustments to unrestricted on-street parking during collection periods. While we can currently park where we want during the day, that won’t be the case when your carts are scheduled for dumping.
More info will be forthcoming, but just beware… there will be new rules to follow in order to accommodate the updated system
Dogs
Dog owners city-wide give a lot of love to the designated canine courtyard at Tourist Park. Were it not for those pesky campers taking over the summer months, we’d be all set. But… and there’s always a but, they do.
The problem is, there aren’t many open areas in the city that could facilitate such a site for our non-winter months. Well, one recent idea presented by a local dog owner suggested the covered-over landfill property at the end of Pioneer Road… the old dump, would be a great location.
Other than the red tape that would have to be cut through, related to it likely still having some level of contamination, it seems it would be an ideal solution. Off the beaten path, yet in town, and big enough to provide some running space, the site seems like a natural.
City officials heard the idea, and maybe, if more dog owners join the effort, something could be done to bring the thought to a reality. If it’s actually a good idea, there’s no reason to let it stagnate while dog owners wander the neighborhoods, bags in hand.
Water
Some recent Facebook grumbling about the taste of Marquette’s municipal water caught my attention, simply because I think it’s some of the best there is.
The complaint was regarding the taste of chlorine, as in, there’s too much. Personally, I don’t sense the presence of chlorine, but I thought it was worth looking into.
I asked Mark O’Neill, Director of Municipal Utilities, about the chlorine issue. “Municipal water supplies are required to disinfect the water and maintain a minimum chlorine residual of 0.2 MG/L in the farthest reaches of the distribution system to prevent bacterial regrowth. To meet that requirement, we dose the water leaving the plant around 0.9 MG/L. We have been doing that for my entire 35-years working for the city.”
The National Institutes of Health suggests the addition of chlorine to be somewhere in the range of 0.5-1 MG/L, so our water falls within that range. And, according to O’Neill, operators bench test the analyzers every three hours to confirm they are working properly.
But, and there’s always a but…
Wait. There is no but. Our water is well within regulations and it tastes great. There’s no but about it.