Newspapers / Grimsley High School Student … / April 7, 2004, edition 1 / Page 11
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Sports High Life Wednesday, April 7, 2004 11 Sports Shorts Women’s Lacrosse (All games begin at 5:30 pm unless otherwise noted.) Apr. 7 @ SE Guilford Apr. 21 @ W. Guilford Apr. 21 @ W. Guilford (7:00 pm) Apr. 23 @ E. Chapel Hill (7:00 pm) Apr. 28 Chapel Hill Apr. 28 Chapel Hill (7:00 pm) Apr. 29 Page Apr. 29 Page (7:00 pm) May 1 Providence @ W. Guilford (time TEA) May 4 @ Page May 5 @ Page (7:00 pm) May 8 Quarter Finals (time and location TEA) May 15 State Finals (time and location TEA) Men’s Lacrosse (All games at 7:30 pm unless noted otherwise) Apr. 20 Reynolds Apr.21 @ SE Guilford Apr. 23 @ Page Apr. 27 @ Mt. Tabor Apr. 30 D. Riverside May 3 Metro Tournament @ Mt. Tabor May 11 Playoffs Varsity Baseball (All games start at 7:00 pm unless otherwise noted.) Apr. 7 Smith Apr. 8 E. Forsyth Apr. 15 @ Union Pines Apr. 17 @ Charlotte Christian (3:00 pm) Apr. 20 @ Page Apr.21 Reynolds Apr. 23 @ Mt. Tabor Apr. 27 N. Forsyth Apr. 30 @ E. Forsyth May 4 NW Guilford May 7 Page May 11 Metro Tournament (time TEA) Women’s soccer (All games at 7:00 unless noted otherwise) Apr. 20 §> Page Apr. 22 @ Mt. Tabor Apr. 27 N Forsyth Apr. 29 @ E Forsyth May 4 NW Guilford May 6 Page Indigo Bead Studio 1614-AW. Friendly 336.274.9888 iEmail: indigobeadstudio@aol.com Mon. - Sat. 11:00am - 6:00pm Sun. 1:00 - 5:00pm Women’s Varsity Lacrosse second in state despite second-rate treatment In spite of being ranked second in the state, the Women’s Lacrosse Team is not school sanctioned and therefore receives no funding and little student recognition. By Nicole Gibbs Sports Editor Though not generally viewed as an athletics-based school, Grimsley does boast a few great sports teams, in particular Women’s Varsity Lacrosse, which ranked second in the state last season and has a chance of taking first place from rival East Chapel Hill this year. The team is marked by intense dedication—players start running during the end of winter, while most students are dreaming of spring break, and continue through the soggy and unpredictable spring season. Yet there is one key factor holding the lacrosse team back, or rather, lack thereof. Neither the varsity nor junior varsity lacrosse team receives school funding or a school field to practice on as they are not officially sanctioned by the school. “We pay for our uniforms, our gear, and anything extra we do we have to fundraise,” said junior Margaret Holland, who is varsity team co-captain along with Jennifer Maynard and Jackie Sanchez. “Junior varsity this year had to help pay for [varsity] uniforms.” Since the school does not give money to the girls’ lacrosse teams, many players find themselves having to “pay” to join the team, a factor which may discourage a few potential athletes from playing. “We had to pay $ 150 to join [the team] for uniforms, the field, and other things, not including a stick. The cheapest are $50 while the best can run around $150,” said junior Amanda McDonald. The team is also responsible for finding a practice field since there is no open one for the lacrosse team to use during the spring season. “We get last pick; the school doesn’t pay for our practice field at the church,” said Holland. However, the field they Ha Leung Photo Junior Buffy Casto, who currently attends Middle College, takes the ball downfield to score a goal. Casto is one of the leading scorers on the Women’s Varsity Lacrosse team. do use IS not adequate for any sports practice, let alone the second-best lacrosse team in the state, since all players find themselves very crowded on the overbooked field. “We are on a church field now, and we have it scheduled until 5:30, But around 4:30 soccer kids start showing up, like three-year- olds, and their parents try to kick, us off, but they’re not supposed to be there. The church had told us that we had sole rights to this field, but we don’t,” said McDonald. The team finds itself having to share the field with other players as well about halfway through practice. At one point the field was divided between three teams, and in a game known for loose playing boundaries and flying balls such as lacrosse, this can create a problem. In addition to being overbooked, the field does not drain well, and during the rainy spring season this problem can be a major setback for any sports team, especially one that has to maintain a certain level of performance such as the lacrosse team. “When it rains, the field is a marsh; there are puddles everywhere,” said McDonald. Many players also feel they do not get the recognition they deserve for being such a good team, “Our football team is not highly ranked at all, and the entire school goes to watch them—we’ve been second in the state for a few years now, and nobody comes to watch us,” said Holland. “They won one game last year; we lost one.” The hype and publicity about lacrosse games rarely rivals that of football or even basketball. Many students turned out to support the basketball team recently, even driving to Winston Salem, as Men’s Varsity made it to the Elite Eight, but very few would think twice about going to watch the girls’ lacrosse playoffs. As well as lacking student support during games, the lacrosse team lacks parental funding, unlike the Men’s Lacrosse Teams. “The boys get stuff because their parents are rich and they buy things for them. We had to buy [our own] new uniforms this year,” said McDonald. While not begrudging the men’s lacrosse teams their financial support or the football and basketball teams’ student turnout, the girls do tend to feel that they are a second-rate yet second-place team. While reasons for this lack of support range from low publicity to the minimal revenue the games bring the school unlike some other sports, there is a simpler answer. “We .were a new sport, and we were started by parents. Grimsley was one of the first schools in the state to have a girls’ lacrosse team,” said McDonald. Perhaps in a few years the girls will receive the recognition and funding they need and that many feel they rightfully deserve. Until then the girls remain positive, and say that they love their new coach, Lorin Smith, who played for Greensboro College, recently finishing her fourth year there. Freshmen Invasion: Varsity Softball The varsity women’s softball team has experienced a “freshmen invasion,’’ with three freshmen girls making the team this year. r € d u c By Jessica Cooper Reporter Softball coach Mr. Larry Williamson was surprised at the number of talented freshmen trying out for the team this year. Three girls earned spots on the varsity team, and three made junior varsity. “[Three freshmen on the varsity team] is unusual. Normally there are one or two,” said Williamson. Alice Miller, a freshman, has played softball since second grade and also played for the Grimsley tennis team last fall. AHia^ she has CKpaiaiE; she is worried about the specific position she is playing. “I think my strength is hitting the ball,” said Miller, “but I need to improve on playing first base because I have never really played first before this year.” Miller enjoys participating on the team to meet new people. Being one of the freshmen is not a problem for her. “At first it was pretty intimidating, but all of the upperclassmen on the team are really nice, so it isn’t anymore!” said Miller. Ffedmai Brooke Morris, who plays second and outfield, also befriended her teammates. “All the upperclassmen are really nice, and they help you out and give you advice,” said Morris. She started playing softball at Kiser and finds many reasons to continue. “My friends also play,” said Morris, “so it’s kind of nice to be on a team every year with them. It’s also really exciting, and it keeps me in shape.” Morris’s pre-game rituals include throwing with a friend, fellow freshman teammate Taylor Stem who has played since sixth grade on summer, fall, and middle school teams. She also plays on traveling softball and volleyball teams, and played volleyball for Grimsley last fall. “I love the sport so much, and it is a lot of fun. I love the feeling of being under pressure [and] being depended on by your whole team,” said Stern. Miller, Morris, and Stern all look forward to playing, but Morris gives a word of advice to other freshmen planning to try out for softball: “If you make [varsity], be ready to drag out all the equipment and get the water!” Photos left to right: Alice Miller, Taylor Stern, Brooke Morris Cooper Photos
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April 7, 2004, edition 1
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