Boys lacrosse prepares for battle this season

by Lucas Smalley & Parker Sharkey

After an upsetting loss against Wando in the State Championship last year, Nation Ford Lacrosse looks to get their revenge by coming back better than ever this season, starting with their season opener against Catawba Ridge at home last night.

Nation Ford’s Lacrosse team held a 14-0 record during the 2022 regular season led by Head Coach Cory Turner. The team played the Wando Warrior’s in the final game last season, losing the game 21-9.

As the focus shifts to this season, Coach Turner has a positive outlook.

“We overachieved a lot last year. I don’t think anyone saw it coming,” Coach Turner said. “This year we are only bigger, stronger, and faster.”

The team isn’t the only thing that is stronger this season, so is their schedule.

They set off to face Dutch Fork, Oceanside, and Lucy Beckham--the number one ranked lacrosse team in South Carolina. Out of these games, Dutch Fork will be the only game played at home.

The players have high hopes for this season.

Track sets sights on their state meet

by Olicia Lucas

The Nation Ford track and field team is already looking forward to the end of the season and hopes to compete at the state meet on May 20 with both girls and boys at Spring Valley High School starting at 9 a.m.

“The goal is for the girls to win the state meet and get multiple boys to the state meet,” head coach Micah McCoy said.

The team believes Blythewood High School and Fort Mill High School will be challenging to beat, however Nation Ford has faith they will come out on top.

“I think that hard work and dedication are definitely some key factors that will help the team win meets and just sticking together as family and pushing one another, even if that’s just in practice,” Cameron Glover (‘24) said.

The track team’s chemistry, fewer distractions and new additions to the team, versatile runner, Olicia Lucas (‘23) and Coach Thomas will set them up to win.

“In workouts I am used to not being pushed, but Olicia pushes me. I also believe Coach Thomas brings new and different energy and we as a team needed that,” Sierra Smith (‘23) said.

Last year, the girls 4x100 meter relay placed 3rd overall at the state meet with Sierra Smith (‘23), Alyse Davis (‘23), Aubrey Barney (‘25), and Jasmine Gourdin (‘25).

“We are staying focused–we want revenge for what happened last year,” midfielder Aiden Witkopf (‘24) said.

Defensive midfielder Greg Hagerty (‘23) added that going back to the State Championship and winning this year has been pushing them to give it their all this season.

“After watching all the hard work the team put in last season end in a 21-9 loss, how could we not be motivated for this season?” Hagerty said.

Goalkeeper Owen Collette (‘23) , who was one of the players on the field during the game last year, agrees.

“It was heartbreaking to be put in that position after the blood, sweat, and tears that we put into the season,” he said. “We all wanted it so bad and for us to go down like that killed our spirits.”

A big fan turnout of last year during the playoffs, student athletes are hoping fans continue to come out.“The fans being there made us feel pressure to win,” Collette, who is now team captain, said. “We usually start flat but with the fans, we came out hot.”

The Nation Ford Lacrosse team is the team to beat this year.