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STATE CHAMPS: Parish Girls Lax defeats Reagan
Hard working, dedicated, resilient, and focused are just some of the words that can be used to describe head coach Morgan McDonald's group of athletes year after year. This season, the team's dedication to their craft alongside Coach McDonald's coaching has helped lead the Panthers to a state championship victory!
All season, the team has been led by the likes of Gigi Enrico, Maria Lowder, Taylor Willis, Reagan Holmes, and other talented athletes as they fought to prove their place at the top of the leaderboards through every game they played. Defeating several talented teams including Plano (11-1, 12-5), Bishop Lynch (11-7), Grapevine (12-11), John Paul II (13-12, 10-9), and more, Parish Episcopal was able to showcase power in every step that led them to the state title matchup against Reagan.
Reagan, no easy feat, was ready to put up a fight and put a stop to the Panthers and their regular fast-paced style of play. However, the Panthers were not willing to go down without a fight. After taking an initial lead over Parish, Reagan fans were sure they were going to leave the tournament with a title, but the Panthers had something different in mind.
Fighting back and securing the close, 13-12 victory, the Parish Episcopal Panthers were the ones to walk away victorious. Willing to go the extra mile and not stop when things got tough, the team showcased powerful resiliency as well as a cohesiveness that secured a strong finish in the game. Fans can expect this squad to continue putting in the effort for many seasons to come as they look to add more championship banners to the school's hall of fame.
Episcopal School of Dallas seals championship victory
Led in scoring by Virginia commit Sean Browne and Josh Logan among other talented performances on the field from their athletes, the Episcopal School of Dallas boys lacrosse team sealed the deal for their sixth overall championship victory-- first since 2019.
Despite heartbreaking losses in the state semifinals and state finals last year and the year before, it has been clear that ESD has been on a mission from the very beginning. Ready to reclaim their title, the lacrosse team took on several challenges throughout the year that ultimately led them right back into the playoffs and eventually into the state tournament. Fighting tooth and nail without hesitation or a moment of doubt, the athletes continued to play every game as if it were their last game of the season; reaping the benefits of hoisting the championship trophy with a 12-10 victory over The Woodlands in the state championship game. In the game, Browne scored a resounding five goals while Logan scored four of his own.
Head coach Jay Sothoron had only incredible things to say about this squad as they showcased not only skill, but impeccable leadership this season: "The last two years we lost at the state semifinal game by a goal and the state championship by a goal so we have been close," said Sothoron. "This year's team just got better every week. We dealt with a lot of injuries and had to beat three very good teams in the playoffs to win the state championship."
"Our young men just brought a different level of toughness and grit," Sothoron continued. "We made mistakes, but our work ethic and resilience were the foundation of success for us. We were able to put The Woodlands in a lot of pressure situations which caused turnovers that we capitalized on. This year's group played with an intensity that they are not going to lose. I n the end, we won as a team where our kids did not car who got the individual accolades. They played together and they earned the right to be state champs!"
With the offseason to prep for next year, fans can expect this squad to come back with the same tenacity and resilience that has led them deep into the playoffs for several years running. The team has the ability to record a repeat, but for now they deserve the well-earned chance to celebrate their championship!