Elle Arslaner helping lead Lady Thunder as they get the 2026 season underway

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - This week’s ABC7 Athlete is Elle Arslaner from the Out-of-Door Academy (ODA). She’s a an 11th grader and one of the star players for the school’s girls lacrosse program.

They’re just starting to get their 2026 campaign underway. They’ve only played a few games so far. This team also has a first year head coach, Alexis Miller, leading the program. Arslaner says there’s an excitement that comes with some of the unknown going into this season.

“Coach Alexis has been awesome with being super welcoming,” Arslaner said. “She’s teaching us a lot of great new things, and just having a fresh, new perspective on everything. So, it’s been a great new beginning for us.”

Arslaner is a team captain for this season. It’s an opportunity that she says she doesn’t take for granted.

“I take it as a big responsibility to be the best possible leader that I can be for them,” Arslaner said. “I want them to feel comfortable in this environment. We’re all going through changes and everything.”

The role means more to Arslaner because she’s a dual-sport student-athlete. “I’m apart of the ODA varsity soccer team as well,” Arslaner said. “We actually just concluded our season.”

She didn’t start the season with her teammates, but when she did start she was able to fit in like a hand in a glove. Her teammates feel her passion and it’s also rubbing off on them.

“She’s motivating and always encouraging the other girls,” Abby DiPinto, one of Arslaner’s friends and teammates, said. I think she’s really driven by the things that she loves.”

Arslaner’s spirit meshes perfectly with that of her first year head coach too, who is happy to have her on this team. “Elle is always ready,” Miller said. “She’s ready at practices, and she’s ready at games. Having Elle, be that example for these younger girls, it shows them what they’re stepping into in the next coming years.”

With that spirit of love and kindness, also comes a fierce competitor because Arslaner is all about winning too. “We just want to win each day and win each game,” Arslaner said. “Go into all the practices and work hard, and just be successful at all of the little things that we’re doing.”

Arslaner and her teammates return to game action later this week when they travel to Bradenton Christian School to take on the Lady Panthers.