As most freshmen are still adjusting to the pace of high school, Sydney Latvala has taken her place on the girls varsity lacrosse team. As the team’s only freshman in three years, Latvala has quickly adjusted to the group, continuing her hard work as a starting midfield player.
Varsity girls lacrosse captain senior Naftalia Segal said that making varsity as a freshman is rare and usually depends on more than just talent.
“It’s really based on skill level, if you come to preseason, do really well at tryouts, and if you’re communicating with the coaches,” Segal said.
Varsity girls lacrosse head coach Carlton Chan said that he realized Latvala had the potential to play at the varsity level as a freshman when he first saw her cut to the ball during preseason.
“She understands where to be on the field, so when I first saw her cut to the ball, which is basically finding openings so that she can be open herself, that’s when I realized that she could play at the varsity level,” Chan said.
While the team was running fall preseason and wasn’t running full field yet, Chan was unsure about how Latvala could handle playing against older girls on a full field and at a faster pace.
“She’s still a freshman and she’s still learning the game but she’s very good and it was really her instinct and her understanding of where to be on the field that’s hard to teach,” Chan said.
As Latvala plays on the team as the sole freshman, team captains Jameson Sanford and Peyton Watson were recruited onto the varsity girls team as freshman as well.
“When I was a freshman it was intimidating because you come on, and you’re the youngest person on the team by far,” Sanford said. “So I think that’s helped me see and understand what Sydney is experiencing.”
Not only has having Latvala on the team allowed for more diversity, but it has also added a new dynamic by creating stronger connections between the grade levels and having a new perspective to the team.
Latvala said that in the beginning of the season, it was nerve wracking as the youngest player on the team but that the season has been super fun.
“Everyone’s been super kind to me and welcoming and I’ve made great connections with a lot of the girls on my team, so it’s honestly been really fun,” Latvala said.
Latvala’s dedication to the sport has shined through her performance as a player on the field even as high expectations were placed upon her in the beginning of the season.
“We put a lot on her and I think one of the things that she’s performed really well on is just getting us possession after possession,” Chan said.
As Latvala has experienced pressure to do well as a player, Segal said that her commitment to the team is evident.
Latvala’s journey playing lacrosse began in elementary school, when she and many of her friends began playing in third grade.
“I honestly just followed all of my friends who did it and that’s what got me into it,” Latvala said.
Even as Latvala continues to play at the club and travel levels, she has furthered her development as a player through her time on the varsity girls team.
“Piedmont has really helped me progress when I first started playing for the school team,” Latvala said.
“The team has really helped me get better stick skills because we’re practicing everyday.”
As Latvala continues to become a key player on the team, certain experiences have challenged her as a player.
“There was one game where a lot of the seniors were sick and not there, so we put a lot on her,” Chan said. “The biggest challenge for her was to play the positions that the seniors were playing and I asked her about that and she said that it was really challenging to find a voice.”
As the youngest player on the team, being assertive can be a challenge, one that Chan said Latvala will grow into as she continues to play on the team.
“Latvala came in with a smile,” Chan said. “You need to start a little bit early and you have to like it. You have to enjoy it. And you have to find joy in playing.”
