Diary of a Charger: Rallying for Team Unity

Hey everyone!

Well, this has been a busy week. Multiple games each week, practice every day, and nightly homework leaves me with little time for anything else.

Last Tuesday, our game at San Clemente High School went really well; we easily beat the Tritons, 16-1. Our home game on Thursday was against the Tesoro Titans, although it was more challenging, we beat them, 5-4. After practice on Friday night, we had a huge pasta party at my teammate Heather’s house. These pasta parties only happen three times every season because the entire girls lacrosse program, over 60 girls, come to each one. Needless to say, it was crazy and fun and delicious!

Two weekends ago, El Toro played in the first ever O.C. Invitational tournament, hosted by Beckman High School. We lost all three games, which was pretty discouraging, but we did our best and played well. This Tuesday, we played a tough game at Mission Viejo High School; we ended up beating them, 13-12, in overtime. I played in the JV game that night as well; we also beat Mission, 16-2. So far, the three games we have won are league games, making us Number 1. I hope we can continue this streak!

Unfortunately, there has been a lot of unrest on our team. Issues rise up from anything, from playing time to how practices are run.  Team drama complicates our playing; if teammates are fighting or not being loyal, the entire team will suffer because of it. I really like quotes, and one that seems to fit this situation is by Mother Teresa: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” Our team cannot and will not function well until every one of us remembers that we are all just parts of a whole.

The Spring Pep Rally was on Friday, and its focus was on the spring sports. The theme was movies, so each team picked a movie and dressed up as characters to walk across the gym floor. Our team picked the movie “300,” and our costumes were amazing! We all bought tan tank tops and spray-painted a six pack of abs and wore skirts made of red sequins; some of us even had capes! Also a focus of the rally was male cheer; senior guys who signed up spent the last few months learning a routine with dancing, tumbling, and stunts. They performed really well, but I think the guys who managed to squeeze into cheer uniforms and wore makeup did even better!

Although our Friday game against Dana Hills was rained out, it will be rescheduled for later in the season. Coming up this week, we have an away game against El Dorado. The El Dorado coach, Lee Danbara, was El Toro’s coach until this year; a lot of us are looking forward to seeing him again, but not playing against him. Wish us luck!

Until next week,

Bella