VVLC COACHES

Brian Welch

Brian developed his love for the game at an early age, playing for youth leagues in Denver. Brian was a 4-year varsity athlete in both Lacrosse and Cross Country at Cherry Creek High School. During his High School career, Brian led the team in goals and assists, received First Team All-State honors, and was selected as Team Captain. Brian was recruited to Butler University where his knowledge and passion for the game grew while competing at the Division I level. As a starting Midfielder, Brian led the team in groundballs during his Junior season. Brian was again selected as Team Captain his Senior year. However, Butler University cut the program just before the season due to funding. Brian has continued to participate in men’s club lacrosse leagues and has played in the Vail Lacrosse Shootout for over 25 years.

Coaching lacrosse has always been an easy choice for Brian as he is passionate about the sport and is thankful for any opportunity to give back to the game. Throughout his career, he has witnessed firsthand how impactful sports can be in the positive development of young athletes. Brian was lucky to have great role models as coaches that helped teach life lessons through sports. Brian strives to be that same type of role model and pass along the importance of a great work ethic, sportsmanship, teamwork, and fun. Brian coached youth lacrosse teams during the summer while in High School, and each summer throughout college. He spent his final spring at Butler University coaching a local High School program as the Varsity Assistant. Brian started coaching with VVLC in 2015 and has witnessed the growth of the sport in the mountain community. As the Director of Lacrosse for VVLC, Brian is focused on continuing that growth and looks forward to sharing his love and knowledge of the game.

Tommy Trent

Born in Texas, but raised in Colorado, I lived a dynamic life of adventure since I could remember.  I tried most sports throughout my life but really found my strengths in hockey and lacrosse.  I started coaching lacrosse in the Denver area in 2016 (undefeated for two seasons), but left for the Vail Valley once we started losing (totally joking)!!  However, I did move to Eagle 4 years ago).  I have been coaching with Vail Lax for the past 4 years.

I am passionate about working with the youth and teaching them how to apply various lessons of sports to everyday life.   My goal is to help make these young athletes excel in life and have a sport they love and one day share with others. 

Outside of lacrosse, I am a NASM certified personal trainer at Endorphin in Eagle, love surf trips, snowboarding, playing guitar, getting lost in the hills and taking the neighborhood dogs on epic adventures.  I love the outdoor life and have built a career helping others experience the same. 

Sam Milloy

Sam Milloy picked up a lacrosse stick in 3rd grade, and never looked back. Raised just outside DC, in McLean, Virginia, he played Defense at Langley Highschool. A Real estate broker in the valley, Sam was recruited to coach lacrosse by his colleagues while participating in an axe throwing league in Vail. He has a background in coaching from basketball, and ski instructing. Although 2022 was his first season coaching with Vail, Sam enjoys understanding strategy and teaching on a micro scale.

Travis Aldrich

Coach Travis played lacrosse at Middlebury College in Vermont. His started off coaching at the Bement School in Deerfield, Mass and then went on to be the Varsity Head Coach at South Burlington High School in Vermont. He moved on to be the founding Varsity Lacrosse coach at the Alexander Dawson School in Boulder, Colorado. He continued to play club lacrosse and won four consecutive state club championships with Boulder Lacrosse Club. Travis then became the founding Varsity Lacrosse coach at Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles, CA. Moving back to Colorado he was a goalies coach for VMS and has been coaching for Vail Lax as a youth coach for the last several years.

Nick Gorski

From the moment I picked up a lacrosse stick, I haven’t put it down. I started playing lacrosse in Orchard Park, NY in the 6th grade. When my family moved to Littleton, MA. I played for Acton Boxborough which lead me to playing for Keuka College. I have two boys, Logan who is currently playing on the team and Declan, age 6. I’m looking forward to a great season and getting to know each one of the players.

Bridget Ruskey

Bridget grew up in a small island town in South Jersey. She has been involved in lacrosse since the second grade. During high school, she was named a US Lacrosse All-American in 2017, Philadelphia Inquire SJ Senior Female Athlete of the Year 2017, and broke the NJ state record for goals among other accolades.

She continued to play four years of Division I lacrosse at La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA. There she started every game since Freshman year, was awarded A10 accolades, scored 100 goals, and was a three year captain.

She would spend part of her summers being a camp counselor at different sports camps including Maryland Lacrosse Camp. Now after graduating, she wants to pass her knowledge of the game to youth lacrosse players and help them reach their full potential.

Zoe Mazzulli

I grew up in Newport Rhode Island and I’ve been playing lacrosse since the first grade. In high school I played for the All American Under Armour East Coast Team. I went on to play Division One Lacrosse at Iona College. I also rowed D1 Crew in the off season! During college I helped start and run Chicks, an overnight lax and surfing camp. After college I went on to coach lax at Rye Country Day and coached Snipers Elite Lacrosse Club of New York. I am so excited to coach you and bring my knowledge from the East Coast to the Valley!

Havilah Arnold

I am from Vermont, and I played lacrosse from 5th grade to 12th grade. I was the captain of my high school team my junior and senior year and was on the Vermont Rising Stars team my sophomore year. Last year I coached a 3/4th grade team in Vermont and really enjoyed it which is why I thought it would be a great idea to coach out here in Colorado. I started coaching because I think sports can be a great way to empower young athletes on and off the field, and they are also a great way to meet new people. I’ll be helping out with the 3/4th and 5/6th grade girls lacrosse this year.

Andi Bombard

I played and was captain of my lacrosse teams in high school and college – Laurel School in Shaker Heights, OH and Colby College in Waterville ME but that was a long, long time ago. I helped coach the Berkeley High School team in the early 2000s briefly while I was working on a Masters and PhD at UC Berkeley. My husband, Dave, and I moved to Singletree from Tahoe in 2008 and now have two daughters, Collins who is in 5th grade and started with the Vail Lax team in 2020 and Jacqueline (Jax) who is in kindergarten both at VMS. I am excited to help out however I can best be of assistance this season!

Katie Clinnin

Katie grew up in the home of lacrosse, Baltimore, MD, and has been playing the game since she was 5. She played through high school at Bryn Mawr School for Girls and for M&D Lacrosse Club, then four years of Division III at Whittier College. Her senior year she earned her team’s MVP award and was recognized as all conference.

Her focus in college was as a low defender and a defensive midfielder but she also played center and attack when the team needed. The thing Katie is most proud of in her lacrosse career is making a full recovery after a season-ending knee injury her junior year at Whittier.

Since graduating, she has stayed intermittently involved in the lacrosse community from volunteering with VVLC to playing for the ‘Texerados’ in the Vail shootout. Katie is very excited to be involved as a full time coach for VVLC and plans to contribute to the growth of women’s lacrosse in the Vail Valley.