On Sunday, May 11, the lacrosse team competed in the Texas High School Lacrosse League Class A Championship. Starting on May 4, their first game against Strake Jesuit ended with a 5-3 win, followed by a 12-9 win against Memorial High School, and finally a 7-3 victory in the championship game against Austin High School.
Despite this positive close to a successful season, Junior Rocco Renda and the rest of the team began their championship run with a slight feeling of disappointment. They had been placed to compete in the Class A bracket rather than their expected chance at a Class AA championship.
“I think not getting into the AA bracket put a chip on our shoulders and, as a team, we really wanted to make a statement and win the whole thing to show what we can do.” Renda said.
The frustration the team felt after not being slotted in the AA bracket was palpable; however, the Lions wanted to make these last few games count. After the championship game, not only would they be saying goodbye to the graduating seniors on the team, but also to head lacrosse coach Trey Whitty, as this season marks his final year at the school.
“I’m really happy we got one final win with Coach Whitty, it was definitely something that motivated us,” Renda said. “Also for the seniors, it was their final high school game so I felt like there was a little more drive and a little more push to play as hard as we could and eventually win the game.”
While their first game was played at Darrell Tully Stadium in Houston, a change in venue for both the semi-finals and finals brought the Lions much closer to home. They were given the opportunity to play their final two games in Dallas at Highland Park High School’s Highlander Stadium, a much more accessible distance for fellow students and other fans to come and spectate.
“It’s always fun playing in front of your friends at school, and seeing them get hype when we score, I think it’s a boosting factor having that home field and home crowd advantage,” Renda said. “And, when we won, we ran to the stands and sang the alma mater; that was awesome.”
With the season now behind them, focus is shifting towards the future of the program. The championship game serves as a fitting farewell to the seniors and Coach Whitty, but it also marks an opportunity for the rest of the team to elevate their game.
“We are going to lose a few key seniors, so losing those guys is gonna sting but we have a strong returning team,” Renda said. “I think a lot of the guys, especially in the current junior and sophomore classes, have really bought into the idea of stepping up and leading the team.
As the Lions are preparing the foundation of next year’s season, they hope to build off of this season and make a return to the AA bracket next year.
“The goals we kinda wanna hone in on are getting in the class AA bracket and making a run there, dominating the regular season and working hard in the off season to prepare ourselves for the regular season,” Renda said.
