From the green team ribbon tied around her hair to the Harker Athletics logo on her white shirt, Elise Mayer (12) screams lacrosse. She started playing the sport in eighth grade and now plays year-round on the upper school girls team and an outside club.

“When I started, I was so behind because all of my teammates had been playing for like six years, so I had to work exponentially harder to catch up and try to surpass people on my team,” she said. “And it really paid off, and it taught me to believe in myself and that if I put my mind to something, I can do anything. It was actually really fun to put in all that extra effort because I really just love the sport and it’s given me so many opportunities.”

Through lacrosse, Elise has found a family among her teammates and shares a bond with them that’s unique only to the field.

“I really like connecting with people in general, and I think that’s also why I really like lacrosse. I love being in that team setting and being on the same page as all my teammates,” she said. “They just know you in a different way where you can connect with them and rely on each other, and I really just value having fun and working towards a common goal.”

Zoe Sanders (10) met Elise on the first day of school lacrosse practice last year and has come to know her as both a teammate and a friend.

“At first, I was super nervous to talk to and play with her since I knew she was so talented. However, she reached out to me and made me feel so welcome and appreciated,” said Zoe. “Since then, we’ve grown to become very close on and off the field.”

Along with her teammates, Elise appreciates the connections she shares with people outside lacrosse. Her extroverted personality has allowed her to extend a hand to many peers and become close to them.
“I’ve been at this institution since kindergarten, and even though I might not be best friends with every single person in my grade, I think it’s really unique that we’re part of this school with some people that I’ve known for basically my entire life,” Elise said. “I really value the relationships I have with those people, and I really like to connect with them.”

One of these lifelong friends is senior Taylor Vaughan, who has known Elise since kindergarten. Their friendship has evolved over the past thirteen years, and now Elise is “not just a best friend, but also like a sister.”

“She’s super bubbly and friendly to everyone she meets, and she’s a very outgoing and extroverted person, which makes her really fun to be around,” said Taylor. “She’s also very hardworking and has a really good work ethic that I respect a lot.”

Elise credits lacrosse to not only allowing her to understand the importance of perseverance and diligence but also to remain calm and composed in intense environments.

“Lacrosse taught me how to work hard and believe in yourself. It also taught me to take care of my mindset, which I think is often overlooked in sports,” she said. “Everyone’s always focused on doing the extra conditioning, “do this, do that,” but also it’s really important to take care of your mindset and learn how to handle yourself in stressful situations. I think learning how to do that helps me stay more composed when I deal with things outside lacrosse.”

Another value she has acquired from years of playing a team sport is learning how to work well with teammates that she’s never met before. As a captain this year, Elise strives to bring that principle to the team.

“It’s so important to stay positive with all your teammates and keep going toward a common goal,” she said. “It’s so important to be always be everyone’s #1 cheerleader. Everyone deserves to be supported and encouraged and cheered on a team even when they’re making mistakes.”

Zoe appreciates Elise’s dual personality in all situations and environments.

“I would say that Elise is very good at balancing being an amazing captain and a caring friend. She knows when to be serious but also knows when it’s okay to have fun and let loose,” Zoe said. “She is quite similar in both roles in that she looks out for everyone around her. You can always find her cheering on her teammates or congratulating them on a job well done.”

Above all, lacrosse has given Elise the opportunity to be herself in a way that no other activity can. With every practice, every game and every tournament, she continuously expresses herself and her personality.

“I started playing lacrosse because I wanted to play a team sport, and then I tried lacrosse, and just absolutely fell in love with it. I love everything about it, and I love how you can be creative in something that’s not art,” she said. “There’s so much freedom to express yourself in different ways. It’s not just something that has rules where you follow them; you make plays and you make something, which makes it such a personalized sport where I can truly play how I want to.”