How did the Wando girls lacrosse team secure their state championship. What challenges did the Wando boys face in their title match. Who were the key players in the Wando girls’ victory.
Wando Girls’ Lacrosse Team Triumphs in Thrilling AAAAA State Championship
In an exhilarating display of skill and determination, the Wando girls’ lacrosse team emerged victorious in the Class AAAAA state championship, securing their second consecutive title. The nail-biting match against J.L. Mann at Irmo High School on Saturday night kept spectators on the edge of their seats until the final seconds.
The game’s intensity was palpable, with neither team holding more than a two-goal advantage throughout the contest. The Warriors’ triumph came down to a clutch goal by Cassie Frye, her fifth of the night, with just 28 seconds remaining in regulation time. This decisive score lifted Wando to a narrow 15-14 victory over their formidable opponents.
Key Players and Performances
- Cassie Frye: Led the Warriors with 5 goals, including the game-winner
- Chrissy Mallon: Contributed 4 crucial goals
- Maggie Parkin and Kelsey Bennett: Each scored 2 goals
- Brooke Gentry: Sophomore goalie who made critical saves in the final moments
Coach Ed Reckdenwald praised both teams’ efforts, stating, “This is exactly what you want a championship game to be, back and forth, to the end. 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.”
Strategic Gameplay: Wando’s Path to Victory
The Warriors’ path to victory was marked by strategic gameplay and adaptability. Holding a 12-10 lead with 18:38 remaining, Wando employed a spread offense to run down the clock. However, J.L. Mann’s resilience shone through as they scored two quick goals to tie the game at 12-12 with 14 minutes left.
The back-and-forth nature of the match continued, with both teams trading goals. Wando’s ability to maintain composure and execute their game plan in the final minutes proved crucial. Coach Reckdenwald’s decision to call a timeout and focus on a single, decisive play ultimately paid off with Frye’s game-winning goal.
How did Wando’s strategic decisions impact the outcome of the match?
Wando’s strategic decisions played a pivotal role in securing their victory. By alternating between aggressive offense and clock management, they kept their opponents off balance. The team’s ability to execute under pressure, especially in the final moments, demonstrated their championship caliber.
Wando Boys’ Lacrosse Team Falls Short in AAAAA State Championship
While the girls’ team celebrated their triumph, the Wando boys’ lacrosse team faced a different outcome in their quest for a repeat championship. In a closely contested match against Nation Ford, the Warriors fell short with a final score of 13-10.
Despite a strong effort, Wando only briefly held the lead at 6-5 midway through the second quarter. Nation Ford, showcasing their experience and determination, took an 8-6 lead by halftime and maintained their advantage throughout the second half.
Notable Performances in the Boys’ Championship Game
- Garrett Mayer: Led Wando with 4 goals
- Luke Moore and Sean Carroll: Each contributed 2 goals
Coach Lance Renes, who has led Wando to seven state titles, reflected on the season’s journey: “This entire season, from day one, was about growth and improvement. 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.”
The Significance of Wando’s Lacrosse Program
Wando High School’s lacrosse program has established itself as a powerhouse in South Carolina. The girls’ team’s back-to-back state championships and the boys’ team’s consistent presence in the finals underscore the school’s commitment to excellence in the sport.
What factors contribute to Wando’s success in lacrosse?
Several factors contribute to Wando’s continued success in lacrosse:
- Strong coaching leadership
- Consistent player development
- A culture of excellence and high expectations
- Community support and resources
- Competitive experience at the highest levels of high school lacrosse
These elements combine to create a program that not only produces championship-caliber teams but also develops well-rounded student-athletes prepared for success beyond high school.
The Future of Wando Lacrosse: Building on Success
With the girls’ team securing another state title and the boys’ team showing promise with a young roster, the future of Wando lacrosse looks bright. Both programs have demonstrated their ability to compete at the highest level of high school lacrosse in South Carolina.
How might Wando’s recent performances impact future recruitment and program development?
Wando’s recent successes are likely to have a positive impact on the program’s future:
- Increased interest from talented young players in the area
- Enhanced reputation as a top lacrosse program in the state
- Potential for more resources and support from the school and community
- Motivation for current players to maintain high standards of performance
- Opportunities for college recruitment and scholarships for standout players
As the program continues to build on its successes, Wando lacrosse is poised to remain a dominant force in South Carolina high school sports.
The Impact of High School Lacrosse on Student-Athletes
Participation in high school lacrosse, especially at a competitive level like Wando’s program, offers numerous benefits to student-athletes. Beyond the thrill of competition and the pursuit of championships, lacrosse provides valuable life lessons and personal growth opportunities.
What skills and qualities do student-athletes develop through competitive lacrosse?
Student-athletes involved in competitive lacrosse programs like Wando’s often develop:
- Teamwork and communication skills
- Time management and discipline
- Leadership abilities
- Mental toughness and resilience
- Physical fitness and athletic prowess
- Strategic thinking and decision-making under pressure
- Sportsmanship and respect for opponents
These skills and qualities serve athletes well both on and off the field, preparing them for future challenges in academics, careers, and personal life.
Comparing Wando’s Lacrosse Success to Other Sports Programs
While Wando’s lacrosse teams have achieved remarkable success, it’s worth examining how this compares to the school’s performance in other sports. This comparison provides context for the overall athletic program and highlights areas of excellence across different disciplines.
How does Wando’s lacrosse program compare to its other sports in terms of success and recognition?
To fully understand Wando’s athletic prowess, we should consider:
- State championship titles across various sports
- Consistency of playoff appearances
- College recruitment rates for athletes
- Individual accolades and all-state selections
- Community engagement and support for different sports programs
This comprehensive view allows for a better appreciation of Wando’s overall athletic achievements and the school’s commitment to fostering excellence across multiple sports.
The Role of Community Support in Wando’s Lacrosse Success
Behind every successful high school sports program lies a supportive community. Wando’s lacrosse teams benefit from a network of parents, alumni, and local enthusiasts who contribute to the program’s success in various ways.
How does community involvement contribute to the success of Wando’s lacrosse program?
Community support plays a crucial role in several aspects:
- Fundraising for equipment, travel, and facilities
- Volunteer efforts for game day operations and events
- Mentorship opportunities from alumni and local lacrosse experts
- Emotional support and encouragement for players and coaches
- Promotion of the sport within the local area to attract new talent
This strong foundation of community involvement creates an environment where players feel valued and supported, contributing to their on-field success and personal growth.
As Wando’s lacrosse program continues to thrive, it serves as a testament to the power of dedicated athletes, skilled coaching, and a supportive community. The recent state championship victory for the girls’ team and the competitive showing from the boys’ team demonstrate that Wando remains a force to be reckoned with in South Carolina high school lacrosse. With a strong foundation and a commitment to excellence, the future looks bright for Warriors lacrosse.
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.
