Viper girls lacrosse catching on

By MAGGIE TATE, MARY JO FATKE

Girls Lacrosse is exploding nationwide, so it’s no surprise the sport is experiencing tremendous growth in Four Points too.

The girls high school team is in it’s second season at Vandegrift High School and beat Austin HS on Feb. 21, 14-4.

#96 is Maddie Claflin and #30 is Kriston Guerra
Photo by Erin Honts

This year, about 40 girls make up the Viper varsity and JV teams under the direction of Head Coach Katie Searle, JV Coach Lynette Gomez and Assistant Coach Jennifer Greenstreet.

Girls lacrosse is governed by the Texas Girls High School Lacrosse League (TGHSLL). Lacrosse is not a UIL sport and is designated an official Leander ISD club sport.

In addition to the high school teams, the Lady Vipers Lacrosse organization offers a middle school girls club program. Now in it’s fourth year, upwards of 50 girls comprise three teams under the direction of Rachel Coyne, Christine Hong and Alejandra Johnson.

In addition, Mikala Bonner, a goalie trainer, works with all the goalies from each team and eight VHS team members act as student trainers for the middle school teams.

The Viper girls varsity and JV teams competed in A&M’s Annual Aggieland Classic Lacrosse Tournament in early February. Although weather was variable and turned for the worse later in the weekend, both teams made great first impressions, according to team parents.

Vipers played KniTros (a combined lacrosse club from Anderson and McCallum high schools) March 1 at 3 p.m. and Stony Point HS on March 3.