The Greenhill boys lacrosse team competed in the Southwest Preparatory Conference tournament held April 10-12 in Dallas, TX.
The team opened the tournament on April 10 against Trinity Valley School on Brinkmann Field.
During the regular season, the team lost to Trinity Valley by two goals. However, they were able to defeated Trinity Valley 9-8 in a close match.
“That game really showed that we could fight,” senior Hunter Fields said. “We had star players who were hurt, and we still rallied and pulled through.”
With a roster made up of mostly underclassmen, the team focused on building confidence and adjusting to the absence of last year’s senior leadership.
“Morale was definitely our biggest challenge,” Fields said. “We’re a very young team. Last year, we had a lot of older players who were really good role models, and just trying to bring that back was a struggle for us.”
Head coach Rich Moses said that because of the young team they had to adapt fast, but the underclassmen rose to the challenge and play a key role to the team’s success.
“The younger guys are a very big help for us, especially going into SPC,” Moses said. “They had to grow up a little quicker, but they have done a good job of it.”
Despite early season difficulties, the team approached the playoffs with a goal of staying relaxed and playing without fear of mistakes.
“We knew it was going to be a little bit of a struggle, so we just tried to have fun with it and not stress too much,” junior Arjun Bhatnagar said.
Moses said reflecting on rivalry games during the regular season helped prepare the team for the tournament.
“Some of the teams we play at SPC we only play twice a year, so that gives us motivation to get ready for those games in the tournament,” Moses said
The team’s chemistry played an important role throughout the season. While game performance improved, Fields also highlighted moments off the field as a major part of their experience.
“My favorite memory from this season was at practice,” Fields said. “We just had a lot of inside jokes and nicknames. That was the most fun part. Just messing around with the guys.”
Heading into SPC, the team aimed to manage the pressure by focusing on long term growth rather than immediate results.
“We’re a young team, and they are going to have more chances in the future. So, we wanted to create an environment where there wasn’t too much pressure,” Fields said.
Looking ahead, Moses wants the upcoming team to play maturely and bond as a team.
“It’s a really tight-knit group, they hang tough together, win, lose, or draw,” Moses said. “The main goal is for them to grow together as young athletes.”
