How did the Wando girls lacrosse team secure their state title. What challenges did the Wando boys face in their championship game. How does this impact Wando’s lacrosse program moving forward.
Wando Girls’ Dramatic Victory in AAAAA State Lacrosse Championship
The Wando girls lacrosse team clinched their second consecutive Class AAAAA state championship in a nail-biting finish against J.L. Mann. The Warriors emerged victorious with a final score of 15-14, showcasing their resilience and skill in a closely contested match.
Cassie Frye played a pivotal role in the team’s success, scoring the winning goal with just 28 seconds left in regulation time. This crucial play sealed the deal for Wando, but not without a heart-stopping finale as J.L. Mann managed to get off two shots on goal in the last seven seconds.
Key Players and Performances
- Cassie Frye: 5 goals, including the game-winner
- Chrissy Mallon: 4 goals
- Maggie Parkin and Kelsey Bennett: 2 goals each
- Brooke Gentry: Sophomore goalie who held strong under pressure
Coach Ed Reckdenwald praised both teams for their excellent performance, emphasizing the back-and-forth nature of the game that epitomized a true championship battle. The Warriors’ composure in the final moments proved crucial to their victory.
Tactical Decisions and Game-Changing Moments
The match was a strategic chess game, with Wando making key decisions that ultimately led to their triumph. How did these tactical choices influence the outcome?
- Clock management: Wando spread the field and ran down the clock when leading 12-10 with 18:38 remaining.
- Timeout strategy: A crucial timeout call to plan for the final play resulted in Frye’s game-winning goal.
- Defensive stand: The team’s ability to withstand J.L. Mann’s final offensive push in the last seconds.
These strategic moves highlight the importance of adaptability and quick thinking in high-stakes lacrosse matches.
Wando Boys’ Valiant Effort Falls Short in Championship Bid
While the girls’ team celebrated victory, the Wando boys’ lacrosse team faced a different outcome in their quest to repeat as state champions. They encountered a formidable opponent in Nation Ford, ultimately falling short with a final score of 13-10.
Notable Performances and Game Flow
- Garrett Mayer led Wando’s offense with 4 goals
- Luke Moore and Sean Carroll contributed 2 goals each
- Wando briefly held a 6-5 lead in the second quarter
- Nation Ford took control with an 8-6 halftime lead
Despite the loss, Coach Lance Renes emphasized the season’s focus on growth and improvement, particularly with a team comprised of many underclassmen. This experience is expected to fuel their ambitions for future championship runs.
The Impact of Championship Results on Wando’s Lacrosse Program
How do these contrasting outcomes affect Wando High School’s lacrosse program moving forward? The girls’ team’s back-to-back championships solidify their status as a powerhouse in South Carolina high school lacrosse. This success is likely to inspire younger players and attract talent to the program.
For the boys’ team, the championship loss serves as valuable experience for a young squad. Coach Renes’s focus on growth throughout the season positions the team well for future success. The challenge now lies in channeling this experience into motivation for the next season.
Analyzing the Competitive Landscape of South Carolina High School Lacrosse
The Wando lacrosse program’s performance in the state championships offers insights into the competitive nature of high school lacrosse in South Carolina. What factors contribute to the success of programs like Wando’s?
- Consistent coaching: Lance Renes has led the boys’ team to seven state titles
- Player development: Focus on nurturing young talent and building team chemistry
- Winning culture: Success breeds success, attracting skilled players and fostering a championship mindset
- Community support: Strong backing from the school and local community
These elements create a foundation for sustained success in high school lacrosse programs.
The Rise of Lacrosse in South Carolina High Schools
The intense competition witnessed in the AAAAA state championships reflects the growing popularity and quality of lacrosse in South Carolina high schools. How has the sport evolved in the state over recent years?
Lacrosse has experienced significant growth in South Carolina, transitioning from a niche sport to a major competitive arena. Factors contributing to this growth include:
- Increased youth programs fostering early skill development
- More schools adding lacrosse to their athletic offerings
- Improved coaching and training resources
- Greater media coverage and exposure for high school lacrosse
This growth has elevated the level of play and intensified competition across the state, as evidenced by the close matches in the AAAAA championships.
Looking Ahead: Prospects for Wando Lacrosse in the Coming Seasons
With the 2023 season concluded, attention turns to the future of Wando’s lacrosse program. What can we expect from the Warriors in the coming years?
Girls’ Team Outlook
The girls’ team faces the challenge of maintaining their championship form. Key factors for their continued success include:
- Replacing graduating seniors, including key players like Kelsey Bennett
- Building on the experience of younger players like sophomore goalie Brooke Gentry
- Sustaining the winning mentality and team chemistry that led to back-to-back titles
Boys’ Team Prospects
For the boys’ team, the focus will be on leveraging this season’s experience to mount another championship run. Important considerations include:
- Further development of underclassmen who gained valuable playing time
- Refining strategies based on lessons learned from the championship game
- Maintaining the program’s tradition of excellence under Coach Renes’s guidance
Both teams have solid foundations to build upon, suggesting bright futures for Wando lacrosse.
The Role of High School Lacrosse in Player Development and College Recruitment
Success at the high school level, particularly in championship games, can significantly impact players’ futures in the sport. How does participation in high-level high school lacrosse influence player development and college recruitment prospects?
High school lacrosse serves as a crucial platform for player growth and exposure:
- Skill refinement: Regular competition against top talent hones players’ abilities
- Mental toughness: High-pressure situations like state championships build resilience
- Leadership development: Team captains and senior players learn valuable leadership skills
- Exposure to college recruiters: Championship games often attract attention from college programs
- Building a athletic résumé: Success at the high school level can boost players’ profiles for college applications
For Wando players, their performances in the state championships may open doors to collegiate lacrosse opportunities, further underscoring the importance of these high school experiences.
Community Impact and Support for High School Lacrosse Programs
The success of high school lacrosse programs like Wando’s often reflects and influences community engagement. How does a strong lacrosse program affect the school and surrounding community?
Successful high school lacrosse programs can have wide-reaching effects:
- School pride: Championship wins boost morale and unity within the school
- Community involvement: Increased attendance at games and community events supporting the team
- Youth development: Inspiration for younger players to join lacrosse programs
- Economic impact: Potential boost to local businesses from increased game attendance and related activities
- Media attention: Positive coverage highlighting the school and community
The Wando lacrosse program’s achievements likely contribute to a sense of pride and unity in the Mount Pleasant community, fostering a supportive environment for student-athletes.
Balancing Athletics and Academics in High School Sports
Success in high-level high school sports often raises questions about balancing athletic commitments with academic responsibilities. How do programs like Wando’s lacrosse teams manage this balance?
Effective high school athletic programs prioritize both sports and studies:
- Study halls and tutoring programs for student-athletes
- Scheduling practices and games to minimize interference with academic schedules
- Emphasizing the importance of academic performance alongside athletic achievement
- Collaboration between coaches and teachers to monitor student-athletes’ progress
- Teaching time management skills to help students balance their commitments
By fostering an environment that values both athletic and academic success, programs like Wando’s can help student-athletes develop well-rounded skill sets that serve them beyond their high school years.
The success of Wando’s lacrosse teams, particularly the girls’ back-to-back state championships, highlights the school’s commitment to excellence both on and off the field. As the program continues to evolve, it will likely play a significant role in shaping the future of high school lacrosse in South Carolina and beyond.
Wando girls win state AAAAA lacrosse title; Wando boys fall short | Prep Zone
IRMO – Wando’s girls lacrosse team found a way to repeat as the Class AAAAA state champions, but it wasn’t easy.
A goal by Cassie Frye, her fifth of the contest, with 28 seconds left in regulation lifted the Warriors to a 15-14 win over J.L. Mann in the title matchup at Irmo High School on Saturday night.
Wando then survived a hectic finish that saw Mann get off two shots on goal in the final seven seconds to record the win. The final score was indicative of the contest throughout as neither team held more than a two goal advantage in the game.
Prep Zone
Oceanside girls, Lucy Beckham boys win Class AAAA state lacrosse titles
- By David Shelton
Special to The Post and Courier
“This is exactly what you want a championship game to be, back and forth, to the end,” Wando coach Ed Reckdenwald said.
“Two excellent teams just battling it out. Great job by J.L. Mann. But we showed great composure at the end. It took everything that we had to win.”
Holding a 12-10 lead after Kelsey Bennett’s goal with 18:38 remaining in the game, Wando spread the field and ran several minutes off the clock. But J.L. Mann scored two goals in a :40 second span to knot the score at 12 with 14 minutes remaining.
The Patriots took a 13-12 lead two minutes later by Wando responded with a goal by Chrissy Mallon to tie it at 13. After Mann grabbed another one goal advantage, Mallon tied it again with 9:12 remaining. From there, Wando slowed the pace again and the plan worked.
“We called a timeout and talked about playing for one and it worked out,” he said. “It was back and forth and two great teams should be that way. It’s great to see things turn out the way we had hoped.”
Sports
All-Lowcountry girls basketball player of the year: Alaina Nettles
- By David Shelton
Special to The Post and Courier
Mallon finished with four goals while Cassie Frye scored five times for the Warriors.
Maggie Parkin and Bennett each scored twice.
“This has been a dream come true. It is a feeling I cannot describe, Bennett said. “It’s my senior year, my last year. I am so excited, so happy. These girls are so hard-working. I am going to miss this team so much.”
Sophomore goalie Brooke Gentry, a first-year starter, survived the late pressure by Mann.
“I just had a mindset that I was going to get a ring. I wasn’t going to be the reason that we lost state,” she said.
Wando’s boys team at Irmo Saturday night also was seeking a repeat championship against a Nation Ford program they beat in last year’s finals. This time around, a more experienced Nation Ford squad was the victor, winning a closely contested matchup, 13-10.
Wando led only briefly in the contest, 6-5, midway through the second quarter. Nation Ford grabbed an 8-6 lead by halftime and never trailed again. Garrett Mayer scored four goals to pace Wando. Luke Moore and Sean Carroll each tallied two scores.
“This entire season, from day one, was about growth and improvement,” said Wando coach Lance Renes, who has led Wando to seven state titles. “Getting to this point, to the finals, was a big part of that growth. We have a lot of underclassmen on this team so the growth we experienced this season will help us in the future. Hopefully we can make another run next year. That’s always the goal.”
Earlier Saturday at Irmo, Oceanside Collegiate won the state AAAA girls championship and Lucy Beckham won the state AAAA boys title.
High school playoff schedules
Baseball playoffs
AAAAA (May 2)
Ashley Ridge at Wando
Sumter at West Ashley
Stratford at River Bluff
Fort Dorchester at Berkeley
Conway at Summerville
Cane Bay at St. James
AAAA (May 1)
Irmo at James Island
Colleton County at Richland NE
AAA (May 2)
Orangeburg-Wilkinson at Hanahan
Philip Simmons at Dreher
AA (May 2)
Lee Central at Bishop England
Academic Magnet at Wade Hampton
Kingstree at Oceanside Collegiate
Timberland at Woodland
A (May 2)
Charleston Math & Science at Bamberg-Ehrhardt
Hemingway at St.
John’s
SCISA
May 1
Porter-Gaud at Laurence Manning
First Baptist at Trinity-Collegiate
St. John’s Christian at Patrick Henry
May 2
Pinewood Prep at Cardinal Newman
Softball playoffs
AAAAA (May 3)
Fort Dorchester at Wando
Carolina Forest at Ashley Ridge
Stratford at Chapin
West Ashley at Berkeley
River Bluff at Summerville
Cane Bay at Sumter
AAAA (May 2)
Ridge View at James Island
Lucy Beckham at Westwood
AAA (May 3)
Dreher at Hanahan
Philip Simmons at Gilbert
AA (May 3)
Kingstree at Timberland
Lee Central at Oceanside Collegiate
A (May 3)
Charleston Math & Science at Johnsonville
St. John’s at East Clarendon
Hemingway at Palmetto Scholars
Boys Tennis (May 1)
AAAAA
Summerville at Wando
AAAA
Lucy Beckham at Hilton Head
James Island at Myrtle Beach
AAA
Dreher at Philip Simmons
AA
Mid-Carolina at Oceanside Collegiate
Governors School at Academic Magnet
Bishop England at Christ Church
Boys Soccer (May 1)
AAAAA
Fort Dorchester at Carolina Forest
West Ashley at Stratford
St.
James at Stall
Cane Bay at Chapin
Summerville at Wando
White Knoll at Ashley Ridge
Berkeley at Sumter
AAAA
Lucy Beckham at North Myrtle Beach
AAA
Gilbert at Philip Simmons
Hanahan at Brookland-Cayce
AA
Timberland at Ridgeland-Hardeeville
Barnwell at Woodland
Girls Soccer (May 2)
AAAAA
Fort Dorchester at Cane Bay
Conway at Ashley Ridge
Stratford at River Bluff
Summerville at Wando
Dutch Fork at West Ashley
Goose Creek at Carolina Forest
AAA
Hanahan at Dreher
TBA at Philip Simmons
AA/A
Woodland at Mid-Carolina
Bridges Prep at Academic Magnet
High School Report – Wando
High School Report – Wando
Jeff Mayer
Highlighting Wando High School
5A SCHSL
Wando Boys Team
21-4 Record Last Year.
5A State Champions
Wando enters the 2019 season as defending champions from a year ago. Lance Renes is entering his 9th year as the programs head coach. The Warriors return most of their defensive starters but with a new goalie. Wando will utilize the returning offensive starters to control the pace of each game.
“Our strength on defense will be our experience, our strength on offense will be our chemistry, and our strength on the midfield will be our speed and athleticism. Cohesion will be the strength of the Warriors for the 2019 season.”
-Coach Lance Renes
Coach Lance Renes
Wando’s head coach, Lance Renes, will be entering his 9th year as head coach. Renes’ current record at Wando is 101-16 and has won 6 State Championships in the past 7 years. In the past 9 years, Wando has produced 18 All-Americans with 2 athletes earning the accolade twice, produced 43 All-State accolades, and had 12 athletes sign NCAA letters of intent. Lance Renes played DII lacrosse at Mars Hill University where he was a 3 year captain.
Coach Renes helps the next generation of lacrosse players as the director of youth camps for Lowcountry and Top Left Lacrosse.
Players To Watch
Jack Shipman – Midfield – Senior – 2018 All Lower State. Committed to play college lacrosse at Hampden Sydney College.
Nathan Fasanaro – Attack – Junior – Started every game in 2018. Recently committed to play Division 1 lacrosse at Colgate University.
Sawyer Thompson – Midfield – Junior – 2018 All Lower State
Ramsey Turnage – Defensive Midfield – Senior
Micah Green – Midfield – Senior (Lander commit)
Braxton Smith – Goalie – Senior (Lander commit)
Logan Dunaway – Midfield – Senior
Murphy Howell – Attack – Junior
Mason Lyles – Midfield – Junior
Will Leonard – Defense – Sophomore
2019 Schedule
Highlighted games in 2019:
Christ School March 4th at Wando High School
Memphis University School
Norfolk Academy
Wando Girls Team
11-5 Record last year.
Lost in Semi-finals to JL Mann
Wando enters the 2019 season having lost eleven players, including eight to graduation and three non-returners. They will have to build up a new midfield after losing Morgan Mitchell, former Lacrosse Player of the Year and leading scorer Karly Ripple. They also lost Bethany Holden who was essential at the draw and Kelsey Lempke, 1st Team All Lower State Attack. Other key players lost from the previous year are Ashlin Noonan, Lower State Defender of the year and Wheaton Shipman, 1st Team All State Attack. The team will be mixed with several returners as well as a lot of new, young players all looking to help build on the program’s success.
“We are excited by the number of girls looking to join the program – every year there seems to be more enthusiasm for the sport and it’s amazing to see it grow in the Low Country! This season alone we had over 20 freshmen trying out and over 60 looking to be a part of the Wando lacrosse family.”
-Coach Brooke Black
Coach Brooke Black
Brooke Black will be starting her third year as Head coach for Wando.
