The North Atlanta Women’s lacrosse team has made history this season with its undefeated region record and #1 region ranking. However, it wasn’t always this way. This team has been through thick and thin in the past few years, being dealt a difficult hand in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the 2021 post-pandemic season saw a lack of coaches and players, posing questions of if the team would even exist. Luckily, with the help of dedicated coaches stepping up to the job and an increasing interest in the sport among students, the three seasons since the pandemic have shown significant growth for the program, putting the lacrosse team back in the spotlight.

The pandemic turned everything away from normalcy, including high school sports seasons. Lacrosse abruptly ended for the girls in March 2020, leaving seniors with a season cut short. By the end of the strenuous quarantine, the 2020 coaches were no longer available for the 2021 season, and many of the team’s most valuable players had either graduated or lost interest. This created fear for those who worried about another school sports season being lost to the pandemic and its reigning effects. “I was a freshman at the time and really excited for my first high school season,” said junior Peyton Mosley. “It was hard dealing with the unknown of if a season was possible, especially when we didn’t even have a coach set up.”

Luckily, the 2021 season was a go when Sutton Middle School teacher Sydney Haag offered her assistance. She has led the team ever since and now teaches at North Atlanta. However, the 2021 season was not without its challenges, even with a coaching staff in place. A limited number of players left the JV roster unfilled, forcing the program to only have a Varsity team. Things were still not back to normal, with the program having visibly shrunk compared to what it used to be. “Things were different the year after the pandemic, but I am glad we got to have a season at all,” said senior Lucy Preston. “It’s crazy how much has changed since then.”

The 2022 season brought new hope as the program saw an increase in player participation, mostly from freshmen. The program returned to its two-team format; however, Varsity players had to swing down for each JV game as the JV team was not big enough on its own. While progress had been made, the program still had not returned to what it was in pre-pandemic times.

The 2023 season, however, is on track to be one of the program’s best ever. Both teams’ rosters are full due to a giant influx of new players who have decided to pick up a stick for the first time and try out a new sport. The Varsity team is currently undefeated in the region, facing one final region game against Marist after Spring Break to determine the region champion. The JV team has won two games so far, with each player tremendously improving since tryouts in January. “It is amazing how many people are on the team that have never played before,” said junior May May McWhirter. “The freshmen are the future of this team, and it is nice to know that after I graduate, the team will be in good hands.” 

With more players and coaches than ever before, the 2023 Women’s lacrosse program has already made history, with both JV and Varsity teams excelling. This has all been made possible by the dedication of these athletes and coaches. The sky’s the limit for the future of this program, and Dubs are excitedly anticipating what’s next!