How did Wando girls lacrosse team secure their state championship. What were the key moments in the boys’ lacrosse final. Which other local schools won lacrosse titles.
Wando Girls’ Lacrosse Triumphs in Nail-Biting State Championship
In a heart-stopping finale to the Class AAAAA state lacrosse championship, the Wando girls’ team emerged victorious with a narrow 15-14 win over J.L. Mann. The match, held at Irmo High School on Saturday night, was a testament to the skill and determination of both teams, with neither side holding more than a two-goal advantage throughout the game.
The deciding moment came with just 28 seconds left in regulation time. Cassie Frye, who had already netted four goals, scored her fifth to break the deadlock and secure the win for Wando. However, the drama wasn’t over yet. J.L. Mann managed to get off two shots on goal in the final seven seconds, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
Key Players and Performances
- Cassie Frye: 5 goals, including the match-winner
- Chrissy Mallon: 4 goals
- Maggie Parkin and Kelsey Bennett: 2 goals each
- Brooke Gentry: Sophomore goalie who held firm under pressure
Coach Ed Reckdenwald praised both teams, 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 Moves: Wando’s Path to Victory
The Warriors’ victory was not just a result of individual brilliance but also strategic team play. After taking a 12-10 lead with 18:38 remaining, Wando employed a tactical approach to manage the clock. They spread the field and ran several minutes off the clock, demonstrating their game management skills.
Despite J.L. Mann’s comeback, tying the score at 12 with 14 minutes left and even taking the lead briefly, Wando’s composure shone through. The team’s ability to respond under pressure, particularly in the final moments, proved crucial to their success.
The Winning Strategy
Coach Reckdenwald revealed the team’s winning strategy: “We called a timeout and talked about playing for one and it worked out. 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.”
Wando Boys’ Lacrosse Falls Short in Championship Bid
While the girls’ team celebrated their victory, the Wando boys’ lacrosse team faced disappointment in their quest for a repeat championship. In a closely contested match against Nation Ford, Wando fell short with a final score of 13-10.
Despite a brief 6-5 lead midway through the second quarter, Wando couldn’t maintain their advantage. Nation Ford took an 8-6 lead by halftime and never relinquished control of the game thereafter.
Notable Performances
- Garrett Mayer: 4 goals
- Luke Moore and Sean Carroll: 2 goals each
Coach Lance Renes, who has led Wando to seven state titles, remained optimistic about the team’s future. He emphasized the season’s focus on growth and improvement, particularly given the team’s young roster. “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,” Renes stated.
Other Lowcountry Schools Shine in Lacrosse Championships
The day of lacrosse championships at Irmo High School wasn’t just about Wando. Other Lowcountry schools also claimed their share of glory in the AAAA division:
- Oceanside Collegiate: Won the state AAAA girls championship
- Lucy Beckham: Clinched the state AAAA boys title
These victories underscore the strength and depth of lacrosse talent in the Lowcountry region, highlighting the sport’s growing popularity and competitiveness in South Carolina high schools.
The Impact of Championship Victories on High School Athletes
Winning a state championship is a momentous occasion for any high school athlete. For Wando’s girls’ lacrosse team, this victory represents more than just a title; it’s a testament to their hard work, dedication, and team spirit throughout the season.
Senior player Kelsey Bennett expressed her emotions after the win: “This has been a dream come true. It is a feeling I cannot describe. 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.”
Such experiences can have lasting impacts on young athletes, fostering confidence, resilience, and leadership skills that extend far beyond the lacrosse field. The camaraderie built during these high-pressure situations often leads to lifelong friendships and memories that players cherish long after their high school careers.
The Role of Goaltenders in Championship Games
In high-stakes matches like state championships, the performance of goaltenders can often be the difference between victory and defeat. Wando’s sophomore goalie, Brooke Gentry, demonstrated this perfectly in her first year as a starter.
Facing intense pressure in the final seconds of the game, Gentry’s mindset was clear: “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.” This determination and focus under pressure exemplify the mental toughness required of goalies in crucial moments.
Goaltenders not only need to have quick reflexes and excellent positioning, but they also must possess strong mental fortitude to handle the psychological pressure of being the last line of defense. Gentry’s performance in the championship game showcases how a goalie’s confidence and composure can inspire the entire team and contribute significantly to a championship victory.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Lowcountry Lacrosse
The success of Wando, Oceanside Collegiate, and Lucy Beckham in this year’s state championships bodes well for the future of lacrosse in the Lowcountry region. As these programs continue to excel, they’re likely to inspire more young athletes to take up the sport, potentially leading to even greater competition and skill development in coming years.
For teams like Wando’s boys’ lacrosse, who fell short of their championship goal this year, the experience gained in high-pressure situations will be invaluable for future seasons. With a young roster full of underclassmen, the team has ample opportunity to build on this year’s performance and make another run at the state title.
As lacrosse continues to grow in popularity across South Carolina, we may see more schools developing competitive programs, further raising the level of play and creating even more exciting championship matchups in the future.
The Broader Impact of High School Sports Success
The achievements of these lacrosse teams extend beyond individual players or schools. Success in high school sports can have a positive ripple effect throughout the community, boosting school spirit, fostering a sense of pride among students and alumni, and even attracting attention from college recruiters.
Moreover, the discipline, teamwork, and perseverance learned through sports like lacrosse contribute to students’ overall development, preparing them for challenges both on and off the field. As these young athletes celebrate their victories or learn from their defeats, they’re also developing crucial life skills that will serve them well in their future endeavors.
The thrilling finishes and hard-fought battles witnessed in this year’s lacrosse championships serve as a reminder of the excitement and value that high school sports bring to communities across South Carolina. As the sport continues to grow and evolve, we can look forward to many more memorable moments in the years to come.
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.
