Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport out there, and girls lacrosse has made its way to SHS. Lacrosse came to SHS in 2009, and now, 13 years later, the girls team is playing their opening season.
Head coach Rachel Frantz is no stranger to the sport of lacrosse. She started playing lacrosse 18 years ago and is also the head coach of the Colombian Women’s National team. She started the girls lacrosse team because of her love of the sport and the benefits for the students.
“I have seen the power that sports have in anyone’s lives, especially learning something that is brand new,” Frantz said. “I think the opportunity to try something that you know you are (going to) be terrible at right away is a really powerful way to one, combat perfectionism, two, grow, meet new people and make new friends and three, just challenge yourself in a way that is unique.”
The Lady Cards had their first game ever against Noblesville on March 5. Even during the game, Frantz could see the improvements that the girls were making. The first half of the game, Noblesville scored five times. During the second half, the Lady Cards scored twice, while also holding Noblesville to two goals, which was above expectations for the team.
There are over 40 girls on the team, almost double the amount of players on the SHS boys team. This year, there are two teams, and the girls get to sign up for the games they want to play in. The Lady Cards are led by their four captains, seniors Taleah Nool, Audrey Heaton and Ella Pierle and sophomore Kaia Heaton.
The girls have spent a lot of time finding out their weak areas that they need to work on and where they excel.
“Over the course of the season we will all figure out which places on the field we actually want to be,” Kaia said.
An attempt to start a girls team was brought up back in 2019 by alumni Jordan Cox and Megan Frank. They had almost 50 participants lined up, but they couldn’t find a second sponsor other than science teacher Amanda Schnepp.
“All the credit goes to coach Frantz, she has done all the work,” athletic director Brian Murphy said. “She has done all of the getting sponsors, getting grants. She has done a great job of getting it all going. We have lended some support here and there, but really all the credit goes to her.”
Team chemistry is a big part of any sport. Players need to have a bond with their teammates in order to practice well together and play well together, according to Audrey.
Frantz’s coaching experience has made her realize just how important team bonding is. Because of this, she has made sure the team has opportunities to bond outside of the sport, by setting up things like rock climbing, going to Skyzone and even yoga.
“The team will get closer because we are a mixed group. I think we are going to get closer and form more bonds that will help us,” Audrey said.
Nool scored the first goal in SHS girls lacrosse history during the game against Noblesville. She, along with the other three other captains, have helped lead the team by doing the right things, signing up to play in every game and going to every practice.
“We have already done a lot, and I think we will grow a lot,” Nool said.
Nool has a possible future already set up in lacrosse. She has an offer from Marian University to play lacrosse. Nool still hasn’t decided on whether she wants to continue her athletic career, but she is excited for the opportunity.
“I am definitely excited because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play a sport in college, and I think it will be a fun experience,” Nool said.
Lacrosse is growing throughout the country, at the high school, college and professional level. The Women’s Professional Lacrosse league was founded in 2018. In college, the number of women’s teams nearly doubled, 256 teams in 2003 to 505 teams in 2018. In a one year span, between 2017 and 2018, 22.6% of high schools added a girls lacrosse team.
The team will need to focus on growing their skills first. Frantz, the captains and the rest of the team are hopeful for the upcoming season.
“Growth wise, I think we will see our scores, in the first games, go from like two goals in the entire game, definitely into the higher numbers,” Frantz said.