Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1542879
34 WAC Magazine | wac.net LACROSSE Cole Johnson got his first lacrosse stick in fourth grade when his dad signed him up for the Bellevue Lacrosse Youth Program. at early introduction led him to a position on West Point's team, where he played from 2014–2017. Multiple tours in the Middle East, including as an officer of the 75th Ranger Regiment, took him away from the game for nearly five years, but he recently picked up lacrosse again as a member of the WAC team. Cole was brought in by a former youth team- mate. at hometown connection stands proud. "It's special," Cole says. "We all grew up playing together, went our separate ways, but then just picked up right where we le off." e WAC team has won five straight Pacific Northwest Lacrosse League Championships. "We're a really solid team," Cole says. "Access to the great group of players and to the organiza- tion that is the WAC goes a long way." M E M B E R S I N C E 2 0 2 2 Emily Prentice played for Harvard from 2016–2020. During her time with the Crimson, Emily witnessed the program grow from 14 players to being crowned 2019's National Intercollegiate Rugby Association 15s champion. "It was so above and beyond," she says. "Rugby really helped me find my place on the East Coast aer moving from Seattle." e sport delivered again in 2022 when Emily returned to Seattle for medical school at the University of Washington. Aer running into some WAC players around town, Emily joined the team in 2022. "No one is guaranteed a spot on the roster," Emily says. "at indicates a healthy team of talented players who value hard work, showing up, and commitment." e WAC women's team regularly places on top of its division, and Emily says the resources provided by the WAC are key. "We have access to great coaches and trainers to keep us healthy," she says. "Even getting a team bus to games means bonding time that's hard to find in adult recreational sports." As she enters emergency medicine rotations this spring, Emily hopes to give back to the team. "Maybe I'll volunteer to be a sideline physician," she says. EMILY PRENTICE RUGBY MEMBER SINCE 2022 COLE JOHNSON