Being a part of something that is just getting off the ground has certainly had its challenges. While many elite public high school lacrosse programs exist just miles away in suburban Philadelphia, no such league exists within city limits. As a result, coaches Jetter and Zor had to to work hard to find private school opponents willing to compete against our brand new program. Since MCSC serves 7th through 10th graders, we often had to compete against opponents who were older, bigger and more experienced than us. Additionally, the team had to obtain equipment and facilities to play a sport that 10th grader Jade Henderson-Hayes explains "is hardly recognized in our neighborhood." 
Despite the obstacles and challenges, this experience has proved to be incredibly rewarding. I've watched as the girls worked hard to transition from novices to real lacrosse players. Girls who at the beginning of the season couldn't catch two balls in a row and would barely run faster than a jog, are now sprinting, catching, passing, anticipating and playing with their hearts. As the school requires that all team members meet strict academic requirements to remain eligible, it has become clear that the sport has instilled a sense of discipline in players and helped them continually focus on academic achievement. I've also seen several players step up to take on major leadership roles that they might not have otherwise had.
Even though we didn't have a winning record this year, I'm positive that this was a winning year for Mastery Charter Shoemaker Girls' Lacrosse.Next week Kristen will share Quotes from the players!
