It has never been done before. Both the Skaneateles girls lacrosse team and the boys lacrosse team have won the Section III title this year - for the girls it was the sixth title in a row and for the boys, the first in six years.
The Citizen file photos
Skaneateles midfielder Thomas Schoener heads up field against Christian Brother Academy on Thursday, June 5.
Skaneateles midfielder Thomas Schoener heads up field against Christian Brother Academy on Thursday, June 5.
“It's great for the teams and the community,” girls head coach Bridget Marquardt said. “The teams and the entire community is very supportive to one another. As a coach with a six-time winning streak, I wouldn't have it without the support and the team effort.”
“Words can't describe it,” boys head coach Ron Doctor added. “The programs take a lot of pride in this and it is a good feeling.”
Today, both teams will play in the state tournament within an hour of each other. The Laker boys face off with Section X's Salmon River at 5 p.m. in Central Square, while the girls will face Corning East at 6 p.m. in Vestal.
Skaneateles High School shows its support to all the teams competing in the postseason with a sign outside. Even the elementary school has placed signs in all the windows acknowledging their support for the two teams.
“There is so much support from the community,” Marquardt said. “Everywhere you go someone congratulates you or wishes you luck. It's a really good feeling.”
The support the boys and girls teams have for each other could be easily seen when the entire girls lacrosse team came out to support the boys at the sectional championship game Wednesday at Coyne Field.
“They are excited for each other,” Marquardt said. “A lot of them are friends and it is too bad we can't see each other's games this weekend. I know they will be text messaging each other on the bus to see how it went though.”
“It's really exciting for the kids who are all great athletes, many of them play other sports as well, which is a tough thing to do while going to school,” Doctor added. “The community effort with the youth programs in almost every sport and a lot of good athletes who want to play, contribute to the success. It is a full program.” As the season began for the boys team, who had to start off with some inexperience on offense due to graduation, their goal was to challenge for the Division II title, which they accomplished.
Playing in the state tournament is just icing on the cake.
“The beginning of the season is somewhat of a guessing game,” Doctor said. “We also had some injuries that affected us this season. You can't predict things like this; we obviously have goals but it's the routine of practicing every day and seeing how much better we can get and where we can improve.”
The boys will move on in the first round of NYSPHSAA tournament this weekend to try and extend their success against an undefeated Salmon River, a team they have not had the chance to play yet this season, which makes it difficult to prepare for.
“We don't know much about Salmon River,” Doctor said. “We haven't seen them play and we will have our hands full. We have to hope that our experience has grown enough to play well against them and give them a good battle. It could honestly go either way.”
The girls have already made it through their first round and will face Corning East in the quarterfinals.
“We need to play well at this level and at this time of the season,” Marquardt said. “The driving force is that the girls really want to be in the final four.”
For now, both teams already have a lot to celebrate before they go any further. After the coaches and players got a chance to congratulate one another, they got together for a dinner to celebrate how far they both have already come and to take some time out before getting back in the game.
“Words can't describe it,” boys head coach Ron Doctor added. “The programs take a lot of pride in this and it is a good feeling.”
Today, both teams will play in the state tournament within an hour of each other. The Laker boys face off with Section X's Salmon River at 5 p.m. in Central Square, while the girls will face Corning East at 6 p.m. in Vestal.
Skaneateles High School shows its support to all the teams competing in the postseason with a sign outside. Even the elementary school has placed signs in all the windows acknowledging their support for the two teams.
“There is so much support from the community,” Marquardt said. “Everywhere you go someone congratulates you or wishes you luck. It's a really good feeling.”
The support the boys and girls teams have for each other could be easily seen when the entire girls lacrosse team came out to support the boys at the sectional championship game Wednesday at Coyne Field.
“They are excited for each other,” Marquardt said. “A lot of them are friends and it is too bad we can't see each other's games this weekend. I know they will be text messaging each other on the bus to see how it went though.”
“It's really exciting for the kids who are all great athletes, many of them play other sports as well, which is a tough thing to do while going to school,” Doctor added. “The community effort with the youth programs in almost every sport and a lot of good athletes who want to play, contribute to the success. It is a full program.” As the season began for the boys team, who had to start off with some inexperience on offense due to graduation, their goal was to challenge for the Division II title, which they accomplished.
Playing in the state tournament is just icing on the cake.
“The beginning of the season is somewhat of a guessing game,” Doctor said. “We also had some injuries that affected us this season. You can't predict things like this; we obviously have goals but it's the routine of practicing every day and seeing how much better we can get and where we can improve.”
The boys will move on in the first round of NYSPHSAA tournament this weekend to try and extend their success against an undefeated Salmon River, a team they have not had the chance to play yet this season, which makes it difficult to prepare for.
“We don't know much about Salmon River,” Doctor said. “We haven't seen them play and we will have our hands full. We have to hope that our experience has grown enough to play well against them and give them a good battle. It could honestly go either way.”
The girls have already made it through their first round and will face Corning East in the quarterfinals.
“We need to play well at this level and at this time of the season,” Marquardt said. “The driving force is that the girls really want to be in the final four.”
For now, both teams already have a lot to celebrate before they go any further. After the coaches and players got a chance to congratulate one another, they got together for a dinner to celebrate how far they both have already come and to take some time out before getting back in the game.
