Coaches

CATHERINE LeBLANC (Co-Director)
Catherine LeBlanc played her college career as a regular starter at St. Bonaventure University where she was a two time Academic All-American as a defender. Prior to locating to Charlotte, she served as an assistant lacrosse coach at the University of Delaware where she received her MEd in Curriculum and Instruction in Mathematics.

From 2004-2009 Catherine worked as Myers Park High School head lacrosse coach where she started the program. While coaching at Myers Park, Catherine received Western Conference Coach of the Year honors for the 2007 season and was a top sead in the state playoffs in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. After relocating to Florida for a year from July of 2009 thru May 2010, Catherine was the head coach at Fletcher High School in Neptune Beach, FL for the 2010 high school lacrosse season. Now back in the Charlotte area, Catherine was the head coach at Providence Day High School for the 2011 season. She will be taking maternity leave for the spring high school season and will continue to focus on directing and coaching with the QCS program.

Catherine co-founded Queen City Stars in the Fall of 2005 and has worked to build the program ever since.

KRISTY FAIRHURST BOYLES (Co-Director)
Kristy Boyles began her lacrosse career at Skaneateles High School in Syracuse, NY. After receiving three varsity letters, first team all-region and female athlete and defensive MVP awards, Kristy began her college career as a member of the DI varsity team at the University of Richmond. Kristy received an athletic scholarship from U of R and graduated in 2005 with academic honors and a BS in Biology and Business Administration.

Kristy has coached at Charlotte Country Day since 2008. In 2009, CCDS was the NCHSIAA state runner-up, and in 2010 and 2011, won back-to-back NCHSIAA State Championships with 8 of her players being awarded All-State honors two years in a row. Since 2009 Kristy has also served as the NC chair for the US Lacrosse National Tournament and was instrumental in creating the NC U-15 National Championship team in 2011. Kristy currently works as the Community Relations Manager for the Charlotte Hounds, Charlotte’s MLL team.

Kristy has been coaching with the Stars since the Summer of 2007.

DEE BIER (on Maternity Leave until late Fall 2012)
Dee Bier began her lacrosse career at Farmingdale High School on Long Island. She received an athletic scholarship to play basketball and lacrosse at Hofstra University. Dee is currently a math teacher at Charlotte Catholic High School where she is also the head lacrosse coach. In 5 seasons as coach of CCHS she has compiled a record of 84-16, including the 2010 State Championship. In that time her players have been recognized on North Carolina’s “All-State” teams 13 times.
In 2008, Dee was named North Carolina HS Women’s Lacrosse Association’s State Coach of the Year. After the 2009 High School season, Dee led a team of all-stars from the Charlotte area to a Gold Medal in the NC State Games.

Dee started coaching with the Stars in the Summer of 2008.

JENN FLAHERTY
Jenn Flaherty is in her first season as head women’s lacrosse coach at Belmont Abbey College. Flaherty played lacrosse at the University of North Carolina during the 2006-07 seasons. Prior to taking the head coaching position at Belmont Abbey, Jen led Apex High School to a two-year record of 36-2, including an undefeated state championship season in 2011. Flaherty was honored as state High School Coach of the Year in 2011. She served additional roles as head coach of ASA Lacrosse in Cary during the 2008 season and as an assistant coach at East Chapel Hill High School in 2009. Flaherty is a native of Cary and attended Athens Drive High School where she played lacrosse, tennis, basketball and softball. She graduated from UNC in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science.

Jenn started coaching with the stars in the Fall of 2011.

KRISTEN HEIMSTEAD
Kristen Heimstead is a former QCS player who played on the inaugural team. After high school at North Meck where they lost in a nailbighter her senior year in the state championship game, she played on the UNC club team. During her junior and senior year on the team, she was a player/coach for her team, and senior year the team made it to Nationals. Also during her junior and senior year at UNC, Kristen coached the JV team at East Chapel Hill High. She is now currently the JV coach at Charlotte Country Day. Kristen graduated from UNC in 2010 from the School of Journalism. After graduation she spent a year in China working for a nonprofit with the Olympic athletes. She now works at the Sports Business Daily Global.

Kristen stared coaching with the Stars in the Fall of 2011.

BRENNA HOUGHTON
Brenna began her lacrosse career at Fayetteville-Manlius High School in NY where she went on to win a New York State Championship in 2004 and received MVP/All-League Honors. After High School she was recruited to play Division One Lacrosse at St. Bonaventure University where she was a three year starter and two year captain; earning Atlantic Ten All-Conference Honors as an attacker and was ranked nationally in two different point categories her junior and senior years. Brenna graduate in 2008 with a degree in Business Administration and is currently working for ESPN in Charlotte, NC. She is also in her third year as Head Coach at South Mecklenburg High School.

Brenna stared coaching with the Stars in the Fall of 2010.

SARAH HANNON IWANUSA
Sarah Iwanusa began her career with lacrosse growing up in Maryland, where she attended Liberty High School. Upon graduation, she accepted athletic and academic scholarships to play for Queens University of Charlotte. She was a four year starter on attack at Queens, earning First Team All Conference honors twice, and the Queens Coach’s award as a senior. Sarah graduated in 2008 with a BA in Psychology, and is currently working as a paralegal at Cranfill, Sumner, and Hartzog. She has coached at various clinics and camps throughout the area, and has also been the volunteer assistant for the Queens program.

Sarah started coaching with the Stars in the Fall of 2010.

LINDSAY KILLIAN JOHNSON
Lindsay Johnson, originally from Syracuse, NY, began her lacrosse career at Liverpool High School where she received three varsity letters and earned first-team all-league and team MVP honors. After high school she was recruited to play at the University of Oregon where she was a 3 year starter and 4 year letter winner. She was named to the All-Academic team for three consecutive years. Lindsay graduated in 2008 with a degree in Human Physiology. She currently works as a registered nurse in the surgical trauma intensive care unit at CMC Main.

Lindsay started coaching with the Stars in the Fall of 2009.

MOLLY LEHMAN-LEWIS
Molly Lehman-Lewis, originally from Canandaigua, NY, began her lacrosse career at Canandaigua Academy. After being recruited she continued her career at SUNY Potsdam playing offense. She was made captain her senior year and was named MVP in both 2009 and 2010. Molly graduated in 2010 with a BA in Psychology.  Since 2007 she has been working for US Lacrosse’s special events department and she is coaching North Carolina’s U15 National Team for the second year. Molly is finishing up her second season as assistant coach at Belmont Abbey College who is currently ranked 26th in the nation for division II.

She has been coaching with the Stars since the Summer of 2010.

CAITLIN O’ROURKE
Caitlin began her lacrosse career in her hometown of Winter Springs, FL. After 3 years as a Varsity athlete at Winter Springs High School, she received a 4-year athletic scholarship to play at Queens University of Charlotte. While starting all four years as a midfielder for the Royals, Caitlin was also chosen to be team captain for her Senior season. Among her many awards were Best Female Student Athlete, Conference Carolinas All-Conference Second Team, Conference Carolinas Academic All-Conference, and the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll. Caitlin was also a regional finalist for the Conference Carolinas NCAA Woman of the Year in 2011. She has coached various camps and teams in the Charlotte area, along with working as an intern for LaxManiax.

Caitlin stared coaching with the Stars in the Fall of 2011.

CAROLYN PARSONS
Carolyn Parsons grew up playing lacrosse in Baltimore, MD, following in her family’s footsteps. She earned second-team all-county and team MVP honors at Glen Burnie High School. After high school she was recruited to play attack for Queens University of Charlotte with both athletic and academic scholarships. Carolyn made Captain her Senior year at Queens, graduating in 2009 with a BA in Business Marketing and an International Business Concentration.
Carolyn coached the Middle School Girls Lacrosse team at Charlotte Country Day in 2010 and is the Development Manager at the Lupus Foundation of America, Piedmont Chapter.

Carolyn started coaching with the Stars in the Summer of 2010.

STEPHANIE RICE
Stephanie began her lacrosse career at Skaneateles High School in New York where she helped her team win back to back state championships in 2005 and 2006. Stephanie was a two time high school All American selection as well as a two time academic All American, the Central New York player of the year in 2007 and a 2007 Under Armour All American selection. After graduating from high school in 2007 Stephanie received an athletic scholarship to play lacrosse at Hofstra University. Stephanie was voted to the CAA All-Rookie Team in her freshman season. Throughout her four years at Hofstra Stephanie played both midfield and attack and was one of the leading point scorers. Stephanie was selected to be a captain for the pride during the 2011 season and she also received additional awards including being named the 2010 Hofstra Student Athlete of the Year, the 2010 Hofstra History Student of the Year and a member of the Capital One Academic All District Team. Stephanie graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hofstra University with a dual degree in secondary history education and secondary special education.

Stephanie currently teaches social studies and coaches lacrosse at Myers Park High School.

Stephanie started coaching with the Stars in the Fall of 2011.

EMILY TOBIN
Emily began her lacrosse career in her hometown of Penfield, NY. She finished out her high school career with a district championship game and past-undefeated seasons. After high school, Emily played at Alfred University in Alfred, NY. During her career at Alfred, Emily broke several university records, which included most career assists; most assists in a season, and most assists in a game. She is also in the record books for most career points. Off the field, Emily was a Presidential Scholar and also very involved in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. She graduated with a degree in Psychology and Sociology and a minor in Coaching. Emily is a new resident to Charlotte after earning her master’s degree in College Student Personnel Administration at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY where she also served as a coach for the Golden Griffins.

Emily will start coaching with the Stars in the Summer of 2012.

Dee Bier began her lacrosse career at Farmingdale High School on Long Island. She received an athletic scholarship to play basketball and lacrosse at Hofstra University. Dee is currently a math teacher at Charlotte Catholic High School where she is also the head lacrosse coach. In 5 seasons as coach of CCHS she has compiled a record of 84-16, including the 2010 State Championship. In that time her players have been recognized on North Carolina’s “All-State” teams 13 times.

In 2008, Dee was named North Carolina HS Women’s Lacrosse Association’s State Coach of the Year. After the 2009 High School season, Dee led a team of all-stars from the Charlotte area to a Gold Medal in the NC State Games.