New beginnings: Lacrosse season starts off

BY KYLEIGH SPRIGLE

Cooper City High School (CCHS) is home to very competitive lacrosse teams, both boys’ and girls’ varsity. Both of the lacrosse teams’ seasons start in late January and run until late April. In the previous year, both CCHS teams were successful when competing and they hope to succeed again this coming season.

Last season, the boys’ team faced obstacles but was able to overcome them, making it as far as the district semifinals. Losing to Cypress Bay in a tight game, only one point stood between the Cowboys making it to district finals and achieving their ultimate annual goal— making it to states. This year, however, they face the obstacle of recruitment, as the team has not seen many new players.

“Yeah, we lost players, but we have enough guys that stayed to make it work,” junior Robert Stephenson said. “We’re hoping to get another chance at a district championship.”

“So far we have [had] no freshmen come to conditioning,” junior Jordan Meshel said. “We lost close to 10 people who were our biggest contributors to the team.”

The boys’ team has started preparing for their upcoming competitive season by holding pre-season conditioning with hopes of getting a head start on what they believe is going to be a rigorous season. The team lost many valuable players and is not gaining many new athletes, especially any who have the same skill or experience as those who left. The Cowboys are anticipating a difficult season.

“Yeah, we lost players, but we have enough guys that stayed to make it work,” junior Robert Stephenson said. “We’re hoping to get another chance at a district championship.”

The Lady Cowboys, on the other hand, have been on a winning streak for the past few seasons and hold the 2016 and 2017 district championship titles. However, they weren’t able to attain the win at regionals. The Lady Cowboys are hoping that this year they can win districts and make it further than they have in the past.

The girls want to keep their streak of winning districts going while the boys want to make it further in districts and possibly regionals. Both teams have ambitious goals for themselves.

“I think we can win districts again,” junior Marley Patterson said. “We need to be more focused in practice and take everything seriously.”

The girls’ lacrosse team will hold conditioning in January and start their season in late February. They have a large number of not just freshmen, but upperclassman players coming in with an interest in trying out for the team. As opposed to their male counterparts, not many players left the team in the transition from last season to now.

Both the Cowboys’ and Lady Cowboys’ seasons will start soon. The two teams are looking forward to more successful seasons and are hoping to win a few more championships. The girls want to keep their streak of winning districts going while the boys want to make it further in districts and possibly regionals. Both teams have ambitious goals for themselves.

Photo by The Lariat Photography