Have you ever wondered what it’s like being a lacrosse player in high school? Well, this is the perfect place to find out. Somerset Berkley Regional High School introduced new lacrosse teams last year and many students, including me, got involved. I love lacrosse and I am so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to participate in this sport. Lacrosse is a team sport that consists of 12 players on the field for girls lacrosse and 10 players on the field for boys lacrosse. The goal is to use your stick to catch, carry, and throw the ball in order to score into the opposing team’s net. To understand what it feels like to play lacrosse on a boys lacrosse team, I interviewed Kalani Mari who is the captain of the boys lacrosse team to hear his perspective on the sport. He will be attending Maine Maritime Academy and playing lacrosse for them next year. Congratulations Kalani! I also will be sharing my perspective on the sport and answering the questions based on my experience playing girls lacrosse.
Girls lacrosse= Aisha Imran #16
Boys lacrosse= Kalani Mari #3
Why did you decide to start playing lacrosse?
Aisha- Lacrosse was a sport that I had never played or even heard about. When I found out that we were having a team in school I was intrigued and wanted to give it a try. I was looking for a new hobby and sport and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. After I researched it, it looked like it would be a fun sport to play so that’s when my lacrosse journey began.
Kalani- My lacrosse journey started in 8th grade. When my friend who played lacrosse explained what lacrosse was and how it had a little bit of everything in it, like a little bit of soccer, basketball, football, and hockey. After doing my first season on a travel team I fell in love with lacrosse and could never put my stick down.
What is your favorite part of lacrosse?
Aisha- My favorite part of lacrosse is spending time with other people who love playing the sport just as much as me. I love doing drills with different people and improving on my skills. My favorite thing is doing scrimmages before games because it really puts you in the mood.
Kalani- My favorite part of lacrosse is picking up my stick and playing wall ball or shooting on a net and just improving on my skill. Practicing with my teammates and friends after practices and the games are always full of energy even when we are down a couple points.
What is the hardest part of lacrosse?
Aisha- The hardest part of lacrosse is mastering the little things. Footwork is definitely a challenge especially because you are so reliant on your stick on the field. Also scooping the ground ball and keeping possession can also be difficult since you always have someone on you who is trying to prevent you from doing just that. Just getting good at passing and catching can take some time.
Kalani- The hardest part of lacrosse is learning how to catch, pass, and cradle proficiently. Being able to pass, catch, and cradle when a defender is hitting you with a metal stick is not easy.
If you could describe your lacrosse experience using one word, what would it be and why?
Aisha- If I had to use one word to describe my lacrosse experience, I would say the word “enjoyable”. Lacrosse can be so fun when you are actually on the field trying to gain possession of the ball and score. It’s nice playing with other people and trying to achieve something. You make a lot of memories out of it and it’s just a sport that brings me joy.
Kalani- I would use the word “ addictive” to describe my lacrosse experience. When I am on the field practicing or after a very bad game I am constantly coming back to lacrosse and improving my skill.
What is something that motivates you before a game?
Aisha- Something that motivated me is our group talk before we go on the field. We all come in a circle and talk about how we can win that game. Just positive encouraging talks can go a long way. I also get excited and motivated before a game when we put on game day music since that puts you in the competitive mindset.
Kalani- My teammates give me the biggest motivation before a game. Constantly seeing them wanting to win and play the game of lacrosse, a sport I have poured my heart and soul into, motivates me to play at my best. Pregame music gets me fired up before any game.
Would you consider playing lacrosse after high school?
Aisha- Lacrosse is a sport that I want to incorporate in my life forever. It’s one of my favorite hobbies and I would love to continue playing lacrosse after high school. It’s more of a hobby for me than a career path but in college I will definitely try and play atleast club lacrosse. I also plan on doing lacrosse clinics over the summer so it’s something that I will always be open to playing.
Kalani- I love lacrosse so much I don’t think I could ever stop playing it. I have worked so hard to try and accomplish my dreams of playing at the college level. I have made that dream come true after committing to play at Maine Maritime Academy. Someday I hope to coach lacrosse for the future generation.
