As a young Native American girl my dad always tried to get me into the sport of lacrosse. I knew the game and the history of it, but when it came to the rules I was clueless. I was about 12 years old and my dad bought us a pair of fiddlesticks to fool around with. We opened them in the sports store’s parking lot and I was already over it. I couldn't throw and catching was near impossible. We both gave up shortly after.
Two years later my best friend was convincing me to try out for our high school lacrosse team. I really wanted to play softball, but she persuaded me to join her and all of our friends. After practicing with her stick and falling in love with the challenges that came with the sport I suggested it to my parents and they were not really about it. The gear wasn't cheap and I had already tried so many new activities that I did not stick with. I showed them how interested I was and they finally gave in. I told them they wouldn't regret it. This is something I wanted to stick with. I definitely proved that to them. That year we won the conference championship!
By my senior year of high school I was emailing college coaches trying to get any of them to notice me so I could pursue my career as a lacrosse player. I was addicted and knew I wanted to play in college. After many recruit trips and school visits, I was thrilled with the way things were going. I talked to coaches from Maine all the way down to Virginia. The lacrosse program at each school was probably going to be my deciding factor in where I would attend in the fall and it ended up being that way. I chose a tiny town in New Hampshire and my team eventually became my family.
My first year was so much fun and I learned tons of new skills. I created game day rituals that I followed throughout my college career. By the time senior year came I was named captain and cried at the good news. It was one of the happiest moments of my life and something that I had worked for since I was 16 years old. I took the position seriously and learned a lot. One of the most valuable lessons is that a love and passion for lacrosse is something that cannot be forced upon someone. They may play the sport but that doesn't mean they are dedicated to it. Understanding that concept helped me create better relationships with my teammates. I had a tight bond with every single one of those ladies and know I could go to them for anything.
My love affair with lacrosse started off rocky, but after eight years of playing I had never appreciated something so much. I gained communication and leadership skills. I was blessed with a team each year full of people that were always there for each other. I enjoyed bus rides, braiding hair, group chats, pregame playlists, post game celebrations, and an abundant amount of memories. Lacrosse was something that I could always turn to. It brought me joy, competition, and heartbreak throughout my athletic career. My last game as a college lacrosse player was bittersweet. I fell so hard for the game that I continued to pursue it even after I graduated, not only by dreaming that I could try out for The United Women’s Lacrosse League but in hoping to become a great coach like the many I have had in the past. Spreading the knowledge and love for the game of lacrosse is something I will always live for.
