It’s every team’s goal when they start a new season to end the year with a state title, but only one team each year gets to hoist a state championship trophy. Benilde-St. Margaret’s girls’ lacrosse team ended the 2023 season with a state title.
Team bonding plays a vital role in how successful a team is going to be. Without team chemistry, there is no team. Rather its simply a bunch of individuals, and there is no “I” in team. “We had some good team bonding events. We welcomed a fair amount of new girls to the team and I think everyone fit in nicely,” senior Maggie Graczyk said.
All teams face adversity over the course of a season, but the girls’ lacrosse team faced a record amount of injuries. “We had the injury bug, probably the most injuries I’ve ever had, and It’ll be my 11th season. We dodged a bullet for so long and now it’s coming home to roost,” Girls Lacrosse Coach Ana Bowlsby said.
Facing adversity can either make or break a team’s season, but luckily it made the girls’ lacrosse team’s season. As they approached the state tournament, they especially leaned on a couple of key teammates to handle the pressure and fill in for injured teammates. “I would say our goalie Brooke Nelson stayed super solid in net. Charlize Vang thrived during the whole state tournament, especially the state championship game. Lauren Hillins also really stepped up in the semi-final game against the number 1 team,” Graczyk said.
Since winning state for the first time in program history, the standard has been raised as Coach Bowlsby and her team flip their calendars to the 2024 season. They face a whole new challenge of keeping their reputation of being last year’s champion and will now be tasked with defending their title in every game they play. “[We’re] excited for the new year. The target is on our backs now,” Coach Bowlbsy said.
We’re confident for this year. I think that we have the same goal, maybe back to back or just even making a good successful run in the state tournament would be nice. We only lost three seniors last year, so we still have the core of our team and we’re looking forward to it.
— Maggie Graczyk
The good news for this Red Knight team is that they are returning with most of their state title team, which will help lead the way for this year’s team and leave their legacy for years to come. “We’re confident for this year. I think that we have the same goal, maybe back to back or just even making a good successful run in the state tournament would be nice. We only lost three seniors last year, so we still have the core of our team and we’re looking forward to it,” Graczyk said.