Yesterday evening, I got the email: I made the Marvin Ridge Girls Varsity lacrosse team. After tryouts on Monday and hours of waiting, seeing my tryout jersey number on that roster felt good.
I'm in 8th grade this year, and last year I was on JV. This is my second year of playing lacrosse and my second season playing for MRMS Girls Lacrosse. Moving up to varsity means playing at a higher competitive level and practicing alongside the school's top players. It also means proving I can handle the pressure of playing at a higher level.
Tryouts: Monday, February 9th
Monday morning came early. I have been practicing for the past two months, putting in extra work to be ready for this. I felt scared walking onto that field knowing the coaches were evaluating every pass and catch.
The coaches ran us through comprehensive evaluations, testing every aspect of our game:
- Stick skills: Passing and shuttles
- Footwork and agility: Dodging then shooting on goal
- Shooting: Star drill with a goalie and the X drill
- Attack & Defense: Play 2v2 or 3v3
- Scrimmage: Game situtations and scrimmages
The Wait
The coaches said they'd post results by Tuesday afternoon. Those hours felt so long. I kept analyzing what I did well and what I could have done better during the tryouts.
February 10th: Results
Tuesday evening, I was in my bedroom doing homework when my phone lit up with a notification from my mom, saying tryouts' results are out. My mom forwarded the email from the head coach. Subject line: "Welcome to the MRMS Varsity Girls Lacrosse Team"
I opened it. Scrolled down to the list of those who made the team. I saw my jersey number.
What This Means
Being on the varsity team means a few things:
- Playing against better competition from other schools
- Higher expectations from coaches
- Good preparation for high school lacrosse
What's Next
First practice is tomorrow (February 11th). I need to prove I belong on this roster. Making the team is a one time event; however, earning playing time changes throughout the season.
My goals for the season:
- Earn playing time through practice performance
- Learn from the coaches and advanced players
- Support my teammates
- Work on cutting and shooting on goal
- Trying my best during the conditioning drills