With MiaBella Kisker playing a key role and coach Wynleux Henderson working to rejuvenate the program, the Westerville South High School girls lacrosse team has undergone a transformation over the last year.
Kisker, a senior attacker and midfielder, had 10 goals, 19 assists, 50 ground balls, 16 faceoff wins and four steals through eight games as the Wildcats matched their win total from last season. They were 4-5 overall and 0-5 in the OCC-Buckeye Division after losing to Big Walnut 17-5 on April 15.
South is looking for its first winning season since 2013 when it finished 10-8. The Wildcats went 4-14 last season, 0-18 in 2017, 3-12 in 2016, 1-15-1 in 2015 and 6-12 in 2014.
“I see a big difference,” Kisker said of the program’s growth under Henderson. “He holds practices and it shows that he cares a lot about this team. It shows in games and at practice.”
Kisker scored two goals in South’s 10-5 loss at Westerville North on April 9. Sophomore midfielder/attacker Kaitlyn McBride, who has been another key contributor, had three goals.
“This game, we really came together and worked as a team,” said Kisker, who recently changed her last name from Pillow to Kisker in honor of her stepfather, Graham. “We were passing as a team. We were doing everything as a team. We were doing the little things right and that made a really big difference.”
South was looking to end a four-game losing streak against Big Walnut. In addition to the loss against North, the Wildcats also fell to Olentangy (19-3 on April 4), New Albany (21-0 on April 6) and Olentangy Liberty (21-2 on April 11) in league play.
Kisker’s success in the program has helped her earn the opportunity to play in college, as she will be the first South girls lacrosse player to compete at the Division I level. She has signed with Akron, which will play its first season in 2020.
“With it being a start-up team, we were not only recruiting for solid skill and lacrosse IQ, we also wanted to pick leaders and culture builders,” Zips coach Christy Mitchell said. ”(Kisker) will bring tons of experience, leadership, athleticism and positive energy to help build the culture of this new team.”
Kisker is a four-year varsity player for South.
“Our biggest thing has been making sure that she’s able to stay mentally tough and she can handle the pressure of college lacrosse,” Henderson said. “She’s progressing in the right direction. She’s a huge asset to this program.”
Kisker’s sister, Morgan, is a sophomore attacker/midfielder/def-ender for the Wildcats.
Kisker also played basketball and volleyball at South, but her first love is lacrosse.
“I’m pretty excited to leave a legacy for these girls,” she said. “I hope they all go on and play at the collegiate level. I know college is going to be challenging, but the way that (Henderson) holds practices and expects games to be, I totally see he’s preparing me to play in college.”
At a glance