By Mariella Bishop
The girls varsity lacrosse season has started off strong, reuniting a powerful group of players and adding London Byrant. London is the only freshman to have earned a spot on the varsity roster this year.
London has played the sport for years, having grown to love it. After competing at multiple levels, London has worked her way up, definitely earning her a spot on the varsity team.
In her first year at Lovett, London has adapted quickly to a higher level of play. That includes longer practices, more games, and sometimes workouts, which can be very tiring to complete before starting a two-hour practice. Luckily, the snacks in the locker room keep the team well fed and full of energy.
“It’s been really fun playing with varsity because I get a locker room with a ton of snacks and I get to play two to three games every week,” she says, “And I feel like it’s a more competitive level of play.”
Stepping into a team made up of mostly upperclassmen can be intimidating, but London said she never lets the pressure of playing with older girls affect her mindset on the field. “I wasn’t really that nervous playing with upperclassmen because I’ve had experience playing with higher grade levels before, and I know that my coach thought I belonged on the varsity team,” she said. “I handled it by just playing like I normally do and not letting the fact that the girls on the other team are bigger or older get in my head. “
A big adjustment for many new players is fitting into an already established team dynamic. It’s difficult to just jump in when everyone else has been playing together for a while. But she said her teammates have treated her well. ”They make sure that I feel a part of the team,” she said. “I didn’t know how I would sort of fit in with them in the beginning because they all knew each other and played together and I was new to Lovett and joining the team. But I felt no difference when joining.” “I was so excited when I found out I made varsity, and very proud of myself,” she said. It helps that her teammates were happy and excited for her.
Of course, being a student athlete at varsity level comes with its own challenges. Such as balancing schoolwork with a busy schedule of long practices and even longer games. Staying on top of assignments can be time-consuming and can even get in the way of practicing. It can come down to choosing between sports and studies, which can be difficult for a student-athlete who is dedicated to their sport.
One of her strategies is to get most of her work done before practice. “But even then it’s still hard to balance it with games and practices almost every day,” she said.
Despite the challenges of schoolwork, London’s passion for the sport continues to push her forward. Looking ahead, London is already thinking beyond high school lacrosse and into the future, setting her sights high. “Lacrosse is my favorite thing ever and I want to play in college as well,” she said.
With everything she’s taken on this season, balancing schoolwork, adjusting to a new team, and even entering a completely new school, London has handled each challenge head-on. She has already completed so much just this year, and hopefully she will continue to do more as the years go on.
