Wakefield’s women’s lacrosse team has immediately shown its dedication and success with an overall record of 15-4 so far this season. With several of their senior and junior players committed to following this sport in college, this leaves a great experience for them before they graduate. For the girls who will play lacrosse at a collegiate level, this opportunity not only provides motivation for them to finish the season strong but also leaves a lasting impact on their peers and underclassmen.
Senior Camryn Ledwith has been playing lacrosse since the third grade. She is currently committed to play lacrosse at Wingate University, where she will be majoring in Environmental Science. She believes that the biggest difference between players who aim to pursue sports at a collegiate level and those who do not is in their passion for the sport and understanding why they are playing.
“For me, that [reason] is the little girl in third grade who picked up a stick for the first time and loved it,” Ledwith said. “Dedication also shows, and you can see who is really dedicated to showing up and pursuing their dreams.”
Josie Dickhart, a junior who is participating in lacrosse for the first time this year, has found support from her teammates and coach. Even when she makes mistakes, her fellow players, especially those that are committed, are always there to remind her to keep her head up and try again. From practical skills to team bonding, Dickhart has gained so much from her experience on this team and aspires to grow as both a player and a person by the end of the season.
“I take inspiration from my committed teammates by watching them in the games, watching them play, and then being able to apply that when I’m on the field,” Dickhart said. “At practice, they help me [when] I ask questions to get better, and I look up to them a lot.”
Halle Dickerson is a junior who has been playing lacrosse for 10 years and is currently committed to play at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Having torn her ACL twice in the past three years, she knows the importance of health and preparation when playing sports at a higher level. For Dickerson, putting in the work off the field is just as important as the effort you put into the sport on the field.
“My coach from my old school played at [the] University of Connecticut, so she’s experienced that high level of play, and she’s prepared me mentally and physically for it,” Dickerson said. “I’ve definitely gotten that training portion of the college level. So I’m more than prepared to get that work in.”
Taylor Nowalk, a junior who is playing lacrosse for her second year, highlights the importance of friendships within the team. She recognizes that cultivating team chemistry is important to the success of both the team and the individual. The lacrosse team’s special bond helps to build relationships between teammates that assist them in motivating each other to reach their full potential.
“We have a really close bond off the field with our team. We do a lot of team dinners and fun spirit activities with each other,” Nowalk said. “I think that helps the bond that we have on the field, and it makes [everything] a lot more fun.”
Overall, it’s a combination of skill, work ethic and true team bonding that makes someone an outstanding player within any sport. Wanting to achieve a level of play is only limited by how much effort an athlete is willing to put into it. However, being surrounded by encouraging and uplifting teammates definitely helps—and is a characteristic Wakefield’s women’s lacrosse team has in excess.
“Just continue to have faith in yourself and believe that [collegiate lacrosse] is something you can accomplish [and] remember that all of your hard work will pay off eventually,” Ledwith said. “It is important to understand that it is not always about how you perform on the field, but also who you are as a person and how you contribute to your team’s culture.”
