One of Skyline’s most popular sports is lacrosse. Yet it is not given the attention of official high school sports as it is a club. However, the hard work and dedication these athletes put in is definitely noteworthy.

Skyline goalies in action

Perhaps it is important to begin with introducing some current lacrosse icons as although most of us are familiar with Kobe Bryant, Roger Federer, Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, and icons from many other sports, the same might not apply to lacrosse. Lacrosse’s current role models are Mikey Powell and Paul Rabil. Both have their own signature moves; with Rabil sporting a “swim dodge” and Powell known to employ acrobatics in diving for a shot.

Important people to watch are captains Jameson Gardner, Andrew Johnson, and Calvin Wiley. The head coach is Anthony Spinelli and assistant coach is Scott Wiley, Calvin’s father. Both push their athletes to perform at the best level with rigorous training. In fact, these athletes were running 3 times a week for 2 months before the actual season began. The program used is an interval system devised by USSR hockey team sports scientists consisting of 1-3 miles of sprints to medium distance running. By the end of the season, each athlete could easily have run a cumulative of around 50 miles.

These athletes are also willing to continue playing in the face of frequently getting hit in the head or injuring their fingers. Gardner, who plays goalie, revealed that “I myself have broken 2 thumbs and the 5th metacarpal in my hand from getting hit with the ball”. Concussions from hay-wire sticks or flying balls is also not that uncommon.

With dedicated coaching, scientific training, hard-working athletes, and people who play on in the face of injury for love of the game, perhaps what Skyline Lax needs most is a stronger twelth man. Gardner himself lamented “We really don’t have any fans, which really sucks. The hard part is how we aren’t an official sport, so we don’t get the recognition that major school sports get. I would love to look up in the stands and see fans besides our parents”. So be sure to go out there and watch these unsung heroes take their next shots at their opponents, particularly traditional rivals Issaquah and Eastlake.