The returning State Champions, the WHS girls lacrosse team, are built on skill, experience and grit. But those qualities alone don’t explain the Blue Devils’ success on the field. Of equal importance is the bond among the athletes, which grows stronger each year as they continue striving for success.
The team’s chemistry is strengthened by numerous team-bonding activities, most notably their game-day ritual. At the start of the season, the girls all sign a lacrosse ball. Then, throughout the season on game days, the signed ball is brought into school and passed among the players throughout the school day in the halls. The goal is simple: Don’t be the one holding the ball when the final school bell rings. If you are, you must participate in a “punishment” that is decided by the team’s tri-captains: seniors Alice Manzo, Gillian Cohen and Maeve Wojick.
The game follows a set of rules designed to keep the ball moving and involve as many players as possible. An important rule is that you may not give the ball back to the person who had just passed it to you. The purpose of this tradition is to build connections between the athletes off the field, ultimately strengthening their performance during games.
“The game helps to get everyone so excited for the game after school. It is like a way to calm the game day nerves by having us focus on something else. It also really helps everyone get to know the whole team as we are all equally involved,” Manzo said.
The end of the day is when tensions become the highest. “Everyone takes it really seriously,” said junior Logan Partridge. “No one wants to be stuck with the ball and do the next punishment later on that week.”
In previous seasons, these “punishments” have varied in intensity. One of the most memorable moments was last season, when one WHS sophomore was tasked with wearing an inflatable leprechaun outfit throughout the entire school day. Others have included wearing game-day gear, such as a mouthguard and goggles, during the day, or performing a series of footwork exercises in the middle of the cafeteria.
“It’s a tradition I’ve been part of for the past four years, and I think it’s great that we’ve kept it going and can now pass it down to the underclassmen to continue,” Manzo said.
As the season moves forward, the Blue Devils’ combination of camaraderie, fun and discipline will continue to drive the team’s success. Whether it’s winning on the field or strengthening the bonds off the field, the WHS girls lacrosse team proves that teamwork goes far beyond practice drills. With each shared laugh, challenge and triumph, the Blue Devils are not just champions, but rather a united force ready to take on whatever challenges arise.
