Madison boys’ lacrosse advance to state semi-finals

In recent years, many of the Warhawk athletic teams have found success in the pool, on the hard court, pitch, gridiron or diamond and much of the foundation for that success is built on trust that runs throughout the program from the coaches, through the captains and to each and every player on the roster.

This season, that trust has been instilled throughout the ranks on the boys’ lacrosse team and is one of the key components that has built the foundation of their success through the state quarterfinals. It starts with a cadre of coaches, that the parents trust, to use a team sport to help teach life lessons and help to develop these boys into young men. It runs through the players who trust and respect the coaches to prepare them for games during 12-15 hours a week of practices and film sessions. A trust the coaches have in the players who come to practice, ready to work to make themselves and the team better. And trust among the players, that on game day not one player's success is more important than the team's success. Here are some examples of how the Warhawks have built this sense of trust throughout the season:

• Trust that when a face off is flipped between the legs, a white jersey will be there to scoop up the ground ball
• Trust that when a shot misses wide that a teammate is racing toward the end line to extend the possession
• Trust that when a substitute enters a game, he is doing so with same intensity and strategy as the player running off the field
• Trust that when a defender is clearing a turnover, that the humble attackmen clear the way for him to make a decision to take a shot on goal or make a pass to set up the offense
• Trust that when a long pole goes out to play tight defense that other defenders and the goalie have his back
• Trust that at a break the team managers will have what the players need to re-energize to finish the game or their practice strong
• Trust that the entire roster is fully committed to the team and any player is ready to step in when called upon
• Trust that when a captain calls for a Sunday shoot around that the team will show up to hone their skills just a little more and make one another better
• Trust that when a player is having a difficult time on or off the field that his teammates are there to listen, talk, console or have a laugh

The Warhawks won the game Friday night over W.T. Woodson by a score of 6-3. And today, the coaches and players showed up to practice, trusting in one another that they would practice like it was the first day of the season in preparation for the next contest.

The Warhawks play again Tuesday night, June 4th, at home in the VHSL State Semi Finals.