Lacrosse
Rampant Lacrosse Charges into It's Second SeasonBY Clarke Webster Nov. 23, 2014
It is the fastest growing sport in the nation, and it is about to enter its second varsity season here at Rose. Lacrosse is a modern sport that is rapidly gaining popularity here in Greenville.
Three years ago several students here at Rose organized the first lacrosse team. Since then the team has been quickly gaining new players and increasing its skill. “We have come so far as a team in such a short time,” senior Webster Bland said. “I remember when it was just a few of us lads way back in the day.” The team began its very first official season as a varsity team last year where they finished with a 6-7 record. This almost neutral finish showed the team's potential and exposed the need for improvement. “We need to focus on teamwork, team chemistry and communicating better together,” junior Clay Lindsay said. “We just need to go out and get it in the pre season.” Workouts for the 2014-2015 season have started, and the new players have been getting a first taste of the lacrosse experience. The intriguing gameplay and magnetic team leaders have been responsible for the increase in players. This year eight new freshmen have joined the team. “I think the main focus of the workouts is to welcome us new players to the team,” freshman player Lochland Younce said. “We are working on working as a team so as to make a stronger team overall.” Other players also see the workouts as a chance to create bonds in the team early on before the season even starts. “These workouts are great because this year we have a lot of upcoming talent in the freshman class as well as thirteen or fourteen seniors,” Lindsay said. “So this will definitely be a strong-seeded team if we maximize on the workouts together.” For many freshmen this is a dream come true. They are able to experience the joy and excitement of playing on a high school lacrosse team and representing their sport and school proudly. This experience will be vital due to several key players that will graduate this year. “When I first started, it was just me and my friends, and we weren’t really the most athletic people in our grade, but as more people started playing the competition started to grow,” freshman Ricky Cue said. “People who originally played but aren't serious are quitting or sitting on the bench because that’s not why they wanted to play, but not me; I am sticking around.” This year the Rose lacrosse team will enter its last season with the team's founding players. The team will be facing all of their usual rivals such as D.H. Conley and New Bern as well as trying to train a large number of new players. This will present the team with adversity, but even the newest players are confident. “This is the year that I think we are going to do well,” Cue said. “Everyone will be at the peak of their career.” |
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