Pure joy was evident along the sideline of the Skyline Spartans boys lacrosse team as the final seconds trickled off the clock against the rival Eastlake Wolves.
The Spartans registered a 9-7 victory against the Wolves in the Washington High School boys lacrosse 4A state championship game on May 27 in Tukwila. Skyline senior Conner Hoke, who scored two goals against the Wolves in the second quarter, believed attaining a state crown was the result of hard work and dedication.
“It has been a long four years. We’ve made it to the [semifinals] and lost a couple of heartbreakers in the playoffs so it’s good to finally get through that. We’re state champs baby,” Hoke said with a smile. “It was a team effort. We just stuck it out and we knew we were the better team in the end.”
Skyline head coach Sam Hutson, who is in his fourth season as the head coach of the program, was glad to see his team’s eight seniors finish their high school careers at the pinnacle the sport has to offer at the high school level.
“This is a very special group. I couldn’t be prouder of them. They bought in from day one and did what I have asked them to do. They never faltered, they completely believed in themselves and they are coaches on the field themselves. That is what is important,” Hutson said. “They build a [lacrosse] community up at Skyline and this just solidifies that.”
Skyline seniors William Cespedes and Jack McCarthy each scored two goals in the victory as well. Spartans players Nathan Brandt, Matthew Harris and Nolan Eggert each recorded one goal in the season finale.
Eggert, who scored his lone goal of the game with 10:45 left in the third quarter, said earning the state title was something his team had worked toward all season.
“Obviously it was the last game of the season and we just gave it everything we had and we held on. It is amazing for our team and for everyone who has ever been in this program. We just finally did it,” Eggert said.
Eastlake senior Cullen Payne scored a team-high two goals in the loss for his squad. Wolves players Andrew Edwards, Reed Payne, Nate Sutter, Matthew Cannon and Daniel Bradley scored one goal apiece as well.
