NewsAthleticsLacrosse
Team Georgia ready for season
Nov 20, 2008 12:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Written by Danielle Findley of ndplacrosse.com
The players on Team Georgia elite’s squad understand that they come from an area where lacrosse is an emerging sport. But instead of letting their region’s lack of lacrosse recognition get in their way, the players and coaches use it as motivation.
“We’re always an underdog,” said Team Georgia head coach Mike Hannon. “The kids always play with a chip on their shoulder, like they have something to prove because they come from Georgia.”
To face top competition, Team Georgia spent the summer traveling hundreds of miles each trip to play against some of the best teams in the country.
“We played in three or four small tournaments, and two really huge tournaments,” said senior defenseman Fred Johnson of Darlington School. “We played against top 10 teams, some of the best competition in the country, and we were really successful against them.”
And while the competition they faced over the summer was fierce, the players realized that the game can be played at a different speed.
“In the north, it is a faster pace,” said senior midfielder Brennan Ott of McIntosh High School, who also takes face-offs for Team Georgia. “They are definitely more experienced than some of the people down here.”
As January quickly approaches, the team looks to take the lessons it learned in the summer, coupled with a tireless work ethic, in hopes of a successful showing at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions.
“We’ve been working really hard together,” said Ott. “We run (on our own or together) and throw the ball around, just to get ready and get the feel of what is going to happen.”
Darlington students William Waters and Joey Watters are also members of Team Georgia.
The players on Team Georgia elite’s squad understand that they come from an area where lacrosse is an emerging sport. But instead of letting their region’s lack of lacrosse recognition get in their way, the players and coaches use it as motivation.
“We’re always an underdog,” said Team Georgia head coach Mike Hannon. “The kids always play with a chip on their shoulder, like they have something to prove because they come from Georgia.”
To face top competition, Team Georgia spent the summer traveling hundreds of miles each trip to play against some of the best teams in the country.
“We played in three or four small tournaments, and two really huge tournaments,” said senior defenseman Fred Johnson of Darlington School. “We played against top 10 teams, some of the best competition in the country, and we were really successful against them.”
And while the competition they faced over the summer was fierce, the players realized that the game can be played at a different speed.
“In the north, it is a faster pace,” said senior midfielder Brennan Ott of McIntosh High School, who also takes face-offs for Team Georgia. “They are definitely more experienced than some of the people down here.”
As January quickly approaches, the team looks to take the lessons it learned in the summer, coupled with a tireless work ethic, in hopes of a successful showing at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions.
“We’ve been working really hard together,” said Ott. “We run (on our own or together) and throw the ball around, just to get ready and get the feel of what is going to happen.”
Darlington students William Waters and Joey Watters are also members of Team Georgia.
