For the first time in school history, the girls’ lacrosse team advanced past the first round of districts, cementing their place in the record books after a season full of grit, growth, and groundbreaking effort.
“It’s the furthest Freedom girls’ lacrosse has ever gone,” Meera Jamro (11) said. “Our team has never made it past the first round of districts, so we did make Freedom history.”
Although the season was far from perfect in terms of the win column, players say it was their unity and growth that kept them pushing forward—especially during the intense final game.
“The game was neck and neck in the final quarter,” Christine Lise (11) said, who picked up a lacrosse stick for the first time this year. “I think that everybody was a little bit panicked because of the amount of yellow cards we were getting… but I think it encouraged everybody to push themselves harder and try and win the game.”
Even with three players out, including key defender Keira Sims (12), the team remained “locked in”. They quickly adjusted, relying on communication and heightened awareness on the field.
“Everybody was locked in after seeing that we were playing down by so many girls,” Lise (11) said. “They just paid more attention to their surroundings and they just fought harder.”
Jamro (11), who played defense in the final game, described the pressure of those moments—and the resilience the team showed in the face of adversity.
“During the final quarter, it was obviously really intense,” Jamro (11) said. “I was defending the girl with the ball for a solid two minutes… my heart was racing. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t let her score.’”
Adding to the intensity were controversial referee calls that rattled both the team and fans.
“A lot of players were really frustrated,” Jamro (11) said. “There was one instance where a girl tripped over my foot and the ref called a charge on me. It wasn’t a good call in my opinion… but at the end of the day, they’re the refs and it’s their call. You just play the game to the best of your ability.”
Despite the challenges, the players look back at the season with pride, pointing to the tight bond they built along the way as the real win.
“I feel like we’ve improved in terms of team bonding on and off the field,” Jamro (11) said. “We have a lot more trust in each other… and I can’t wait for what’s going to happen next season.”
For a team that didn’t win a single game last year, even a single win early this season was enough to spark a fire.
“Our first game was a win and that really pushed us through the whole season,” Lise (11) said. “Everybody that was joining the team again, and the people that were new, really wanted a win for Freedom.”
While their historic district run has come to an end, the team is already looking ahead. With players hungry for more and their bond stronger than ever, Freedom girls’ lacrosse has set a new standard—and they’re just getting started.
