To become better athletes and students, the girls lacrosse team focuses on player growth during the season.
Every athlete has to start their journey somewhere. For sophomore Raelyn Wallace, it began close to home.
“My mom first got me interested in lacrosse when she was my coach as a kid,” Wallace said. “Her love for the game carried over to me.”
While sports are just games to some people, dedication can turn them into something more.
“Playing lacrosse means a lot to me, it’s more than just a sport,” sophomore Nika Fulginiti said. “It’s something that’s helped shape who I am as a person. It’s taught me discipline, how to handle pressure, and how to stay mentally strong, especially in a position like goalie.”
For many, sports do not just build muscle; they also build character.
“Lacrosse has shaped me to become both a better athlete and person because of the friends I’ve made through the sport, and the life lessons it has taught me,” junior Adalyn Yost said.
Sometimes, just being a sports viewer can lead to misconceptions.
“I don’t think most people realize how physically challenging the game is,” Yost said. “I always have huge bruises on my arms after games, and during the season, my stamina drastically improves.”
According to Yost, to prepare for the challenging games ahead, players train “six days a week in the school stadium from 3:30-5:30.”
For Wallace, these practices are geared towards their next match, keeping the players’ eyes on the ball.
“A typical practice consists of a lot of stickwork in the beginning, then conditioning, and usually some seven vs. sevens, focusing on specific offense or defense plays/schemes based on the opponent of our next game,” Wallace said.
According to Fulginiti, another aspect of a team’s performance is its morale.
“No matter what challenges we’ve faced, we’ve stayed focused and kept pushing forward,” Fulginiti said. “Even after tough losses or difficult practices, we don’t give up; we use those moments as motivation to improve.”
Yost feels the team takes great initiative in building that morale themselves.
“Our team plans dinners and other events that we all attend so we can spend quality time together outside of lacrosse,” Yost said.
According to Wallace, they also build these relationships on the field before their games.
“Before games, we huddle up as a team, and everyone says a personal goal and a team goal for the game,” Wallace said.
Wallace feels this helps prepare their minds for their games and helps them become aware of what their teammates want to accomplish as well.
For many, becoming confident in the field can be a challenging journey.
According to Fulginiti, consistency and effort are key to improvement.
“Don’t get discouraged by mistakes, everyone makes them, and that’s how you get better,” Fulginiti said.