Girls’ Player of the Year KATY PRIDEMORE Vero Beach (Fla.) Pressure was nothing new for Vero Beach (Fla.) High senior Katy Pridemore.
But dealing with a painful knee injury, while facing double- and triple-teams in a schedule that included seven nationally-ranked opponents, was a new challenge. Pridemore, who tore her PCL her freshman year, began experiencing pain
from a breakdown in cartilage late last year, but waited until after this season to undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair it. She still dominated. Pridemore led Vero Beach to a ninth straight state championship with 76 goals,
40 assists and 33 draw controls. Twenty goals came in six games against top out-of-state opponents. “She’s defined her high school career by producing in big games, and the
fact she did it while playing through that much pain shows what an unbelievable athlete she is,” Vero Beach coach Shannon Dean said. “She produces ground balls, assists and goals, and that’s while being double- and triple- teamed. Doing it against the top teams in the nation, consistently, says it all.” Pridemore originally committed to play in college for national power Florida,
but decided instead to sign with Liberty for its Christian environment. Her sister, Hannah, will join her there in 2015-16. Family is the reason Pridemore started the sport. At age 12, she decided to take a few weeks off from swimming to try the sport her two brothers (older brother Ben now plays at Notre Dame) and her sister had played. She never went back full-time in the pool. The Pridemores lived in Georgia at the time but moved to Maryland before Katy entered high school. Although she missed her freshman season with Notre Dame Prep in Baltimore with the knee injury, Pridemore said being in a lacrosse hotbed took her game to a new level, just by watching. The family moved to Vero Beach in December 2011. “Sophomore year, I was face-guarded
in three or four games. This year it was literally every game,” Pridemore said. “I just look at it as a compliment.” Even through the pain.
1. VERO BEACH (FLA.)
The Fighting Indians (21-3) won their ninth consecutive state title, beating Ponte Vedra in the final for their 128th consecutive in-state win. They were 4-3 against seven teams that are or were ranked in the Nike/ US Lacrosse National Top 25.
2. MILTON (GA.) The Eagles (19-3)
claimed their fifth straight state title, led by versatile midfielder Mackenzie Lech (San Diego State).
3. HUTCHISON (TENN.) The Sting (22-0) won a fourth straight state title. Johns Hopkins-bound Loring Gearhardt (51
goals, 41 assists) played a key role. 4. WALTON (GA.)
The Raiders (14-7-1) advanced to their first-ever state final by beating Lassiter. Notre Dame commit Erin McBride (89 goals and 20 assists) was nearly unstoppable.
5. ST. JOHN’S (TEXAS)
The Mavericks (20-4) repeated as state champion, avenging losses to Lamar (semifinal) and Hockaday (final). Sophomore Lindsey McKone led with 62 goals and 35 assists.
— L.P
6. LASSITER (GA.) The Trojans finished 17-4 overall and 6-2 out of state. Midfielders Alex Fusco (Gardner Webb) and Cydney Tutchton (Old Dominion) dominated.
7. PONTE VEDRA (FLA.) Paced by UMass-bound midfielder
“She’s defined her high school career by producing in big games, and the fact she did it while playing through that much pain just shows what an unbelievable
athlete she is.” — Vero Beach coach Shannon Dean
A Publication of US Lacrosse
Abby Walker, the Sharks (19-4) made the state final four for the first time.
8. LAMAR (TEXAS) The Redskins (13-4-1) lost to St.
John’s in the state final. McKinley Wade (Northwestern) finished with 49 goals and 58 assists.
9. BARRON COLLIER (FLA.) The Cougars (18-6) made a surprise run to their first final four behind UNC-commit Olivia Ferrucci’s 108 goals and 68 assists.
10. SACRED HEART (KY.) The Valkyrie (21-3) successfully defended its 2013 KSLL title. — L.P
August 2014 >> LACROSSE MAGAZINE 39
TOP 10 FINAL GIRLS’
LaxMagazine.com/HSGS
©ANDY LEWIS (KP); ©JOHN STROHSACKER (ML)
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