By: By Taylor McGhee via Joseph Feldman
The Kennesaw State women's lacrosse team is currently in their fifth season as a program, and senior Taylor McGhee has been a captain the past four seasons. As the team is on a four-game winning streak entering ASUN play this weekend, she looks back on the journey to this point.
It was 80 degrees, the sun blazing, and I was surrounded by the smell of fresh cut grass, sunscreen, and sweaty lacrosse jerseys. That always meant one thing – it was the first day of fall practice, well, my LAST first day of fall practice, to be exact. It was my senior year, we had a new coach, it was a new season, and I was ready for the challenge.
Looking around seeing my team, which now consisted of over 30 girls anticipating the first day of fall ball, I couldn't help but think about how far we had come as a program. I remember freshman year barely having enough players to do 7-versus-7 in practice due to the amount of injuries and players lost throughout the year by the time spring season came around. Now we had enough players to do a full intrasquad scrimmage. We had come such a long way. And I was a SENIOR.
During my time as a student-athlete, I have had 53 different teammates, seven co-captains, five assistant coaches, two head coaches, and one goal: to be the best leader and teammate I could be and to help grow the Kennesaw State women's lacrosse program and establish a culture of winning, excellence, and grit.
Despite the struggles I faced throughout being a four-year captain on the team, I would not trade the experiences I have had and the relationships I have made for anything. I have learned so much about myself not only as a leader, but also as a person. I have grown immensely through this role on the team.
Being a part of the foundation of this program has been a true test of my abilities as a leader.
The first couple of years were a real grind. I tried to motivate myself to keep pushing through 6 a.m. weights, conditioning sessions in the freezing cold, and many practices, while going 1-12 in my first year.
I also tried to motivate my teammates to keep pushing and to see the bigger picture. Life is good when you're winning, it's even more difficult to motivate your team to stay on board.
There is one practice I will never forget to this day.
Much of this specific practice was spent conditioning, as we had a player break a team rule, and the coaches were not happy. Towards the end, our legs were growing heavier and our will not to quit was growing weaker.
Even some of the fastest girls were struggling to stay in form and keep the team going. There were players struggling. I was trying to keep MYSELF together. It was by far the hardest practice I've had in my life.
To this day, all of the returning players remember what we went through that day. At the time, it seemed stupid, unfair that the entire team was being held accountable for one person breaking a silly rule.
However, looking back, I realize the value of all of the little things we did during those building years.
We were part of building the foundation of this program. I know now that it takes all of those little commitments, like being on time, holding yourself and your teammate's accountable, maintaining good grades, and being an exceptional example on and off the field to be a successful lacrosse program.
I sometimes look at the freshmen and laugh to myself when they think we are having a hard conditioning session that day, because they don't know what this entire program has been through to get to where we are today.
That's okay because that was a critical part of our role as members of the KSU women's lacrosse team. I'm glad that our program has reached the point where incoming freshmen can observe the actions of the upperclassmen and adopt the team culture without being told.
Our experiences and our struggles have led us to this point. It was those tough times that allowed us to grow the program to what it is now, and I'm proud to have helped create that culture.
Reminiscing on the past fall semester, looking around at my team, I not only saw all of the new freshmen faces, but also those of the seasoned veterans, my teammates who had been by my side, along for the ride with me since my freshman year.
I had always been a leader during my four years on the team, but this year was different. This past fall was the first time I really stopped to realize the importance of my role beyond my performance on the field. It was my duty and responsibility not only to uphold my athletic performance, but also to help mold the younger players to reach their full potential as players, teammates, and young women.
When it comes to games, I have had my fair share of wins and losses over the past four years. Some games I remember the exact play that led to a huge win, and others I barely remember playing at all, but when it comes to the relationships I have made and the people I have been able to influence, that is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
I am beyond thankful for the relationships I have formed and memories I have made during my time as an Owl and I am excited to continue cheering on the program as my younger sister, Maddie McGhee, joins the team next year.
I am so proud of how far we have come and what we have accomplished as a program.
Being able to say that I helped lay the foundation for this team is something I am extremely proud of, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Kennesaw State women's lacrosse.
Taylor McGhee
