Bartram Trail girls varsity lacrosse team takes the 2023 State Championship
ST. JOHNS, Fla. — WOW! WOW! WOW! Another Bartram Trail High Team sweeping the State and bringing home the State Championship!!! Coached by Head Coach Meghan Jackowiak and Assisted by Coaches, Joe Fanning (Papa Fanning) and Meg O’Grady, the girls varsity lacrosse team is bursting with pride after all their determination and hard work has paid off.
Meghan Jackowiak has been the head coach for the program for the past 12 years. In the last 11 years, 11 because of the cancelled season in 2020 due to Covid, the team has won 6 regional championships (2012, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023) and advanced to the finals 4 times. Under her leadership the program has won 3 State Titles (2016, 2022, and 2023).
Bartram Trail was the first North Florida, boys or girls, to win a state title, but also the first to win more than one and now to win back-to-back titles. Joe Fanning, known as Papa Fanning, is Meghan’s dad and has been a volunteer assistant coach all 12 years. For the first few years he would “fly in” to be here for the season as he was splitting his time between FL and NY, before permanently becoming the assistant in 2017.
Joe is the main defensive and goalie coach and has been vital in the program’s success. Both Meghan and Joe also run the Grizzlies Lacrosse Club, which is known to be Bartram Trail’s main youth feeder program and the middle school/high school off season club. Due to this program it has allowed the Bartram Trail girls to be together over the years and really form a strong bond and learn how to play together as a team.
The team’s motto this year was, “refuse to go away.” After winning the 2022 State Championship, the team graduated 8 senior starters but Bartram Trail did not shy away from the upcoming season and instead reloaded with some fresh faces and many players stepped up into new roles.
This team was led by their captains, Senior Sam Michlitsch, playing defense, Junior Ryann Frechette, 2 year captain on attack and Senior Peyton Morris, midfield who made sure to lead on and off the field and keep these girls feeling like a team. Bartram Trail did return two key juniors, leading scorer and 3x USA Lacrosse All-American Ryann Frechette, who has committed to Florida and 2x All-American goalie, Maddie Stevens who has committed to Colgate.
Senior midfielder Adri Ferrara, who has committed to Newberry, had a standout year as the second leading scorer and second in draw controls. Adri finished with 86 goals and 15 assists. Sam Michlitsch, another key player this year, who really stepped up into a backer role on defense, helped lead a brand new defense. The team had a goal to get back to the State championship weekend to defend their title as the new 2023 Bears. AND THEY DID IT!
When asked about any pre game rituals, Coach Meghan said they write a motivational word on their arm. The girls use a word that helps motivate them, keeps them focused and pushes them in the games. The players write about it and explain their word in their goal sheet that they all have to fill out at the beginning of the year with individual and team goals. These goals carry over into practices and games throughout the year and they know what and why that word is important to their teammate.
When inquiring about records any the players or team set this year I was blown away by all these girls have accomplished! Ryann Frechette, is Bartram Trail’s leader in career goals with 350 and career points with 479, and is second in career draw controls at 442 with the current record holder, Lauren Tybor, a 2016 graduate, with 499.
Ryann hit 300 career goals this year and for the 2023 season she finished with, 135 goals, 26 assists, equalling 161points, 167 draw controls, 49 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers. She also currently holds the record for the most points in a single game,10 goals and 2 assists this year against St. Thomas Aquinas. Ryann is a 3x USA Lacrosse All American and was the first freshman in North Florida to be awarded this prestigious award in 2021.
Ryann tore her ACL her freshman year just 2 days before the State Semi Final game that unfortunately the Bears lost in a game against Vero Beach. Thankfully she made an amazing recovery with her hard work and determination to come back to be able to play her full sophomore season. She has continued to prove why she is the best of the best.
Maddie Stevens, a Junior and goalie, reached 300 career saves this season. She ended the season with 135 saves and 48.56% save average with one of the toughest schedules in Florida. In the last 3 games, Regional Finals, State Semi Finals and State Finals, she had a total of 38 saves and only allowed in 16 goals against top teams, recording a 70.37% save average to help lead the Bears to the State title. Maddie recorded an outstanding 17 saves and only allowed 4 goals in the State Championship against St. Thomas Aquinas, with two point blank saves in the last 10 seconds of the game to secure the win. Adri Ferrara reached 100 career goals this season as well and Kaitlyn Williams hit a high of 47 assists this season, leading the 2023 Bear team.
These girls give a lot of praise to each other and say it’s because of every player on this team that makes them as strong and successful as they are. This year’s strong defense was led by Maddie Stevens, Sam Michlitsch, Haley Van Camp, Peyton Morris and Elise Casella. The defense was paired with a strong attack led by Ryann and Adri but Kaitlyn Williams, Emily Barnette, Ava Allamon, Savannah Payne and Peyton Morris all were strong contributors and all are needed to be a strong team.
With all this talent it is obvious that these girls are a motivation to each other and don’t play for themselves but for each other and for the program and school they love.
These girls had a goal to show Florida how good the 2023 team could be and they worked hard through the highs and lows of the season and never gave up! Congratulations to the Girl’s Lacrosse Team on their 3rd State Title!
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.
