TWHS Class A Lax about so much more than a stat sheet

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands High School Class A Lacrosse Head Coach, Keith Tintle and his band of traveling vagabonds have had quite the season. Every year, practice starts in early January. Albeit, essentially you could say it really started in Phoenix, Arizona in March. Yeah, quite the crazy season and fitting that this special group of players came together for real in another state. Playing Arizona's best high school team, Brophy Prep would be a huge test for The Woodlands as they were in search of their identity. Would they play with heart? CHECK! Would they be coachable? CHECK! Would they have each other's backs? CHECK! Would they win? FRIGGING CHECK!!!!!!!

If you haven't been following, you can read WOL's coverage of this magical game and watch the ensuing on-field celebration. If you're impatient, I'll just tell you the Highlanders won in Triple-OT in one of the most exciting, nerve-racking finishes in the history of the sport of lacrosse. Well, to Highlander Lacrosse brethren, it sure was.

You could make an argument that this team was on a high that could rival the one the 1980 USA Olympic hockey team experienced in Lake Placid. The flight back to Texas was probably the best flight these young athletes will experience in a long time. Winning will do that to you. You wanna get high but not do anything illegal? Get on an athletic team and win! You wanna experience a bad trip without doing acid? Get on an athletic team and lose. It's about winning, Folks!

Make no mistake, The Woodlands Highlander lacrosse team 'found' themselves in Arizona and were flying back to Texas to show everyone in the Texas High School Lacrosse League they were going to be formidable opponents for whoever they faced.

So, everything was looking up for this team. They get back and are all systems go ready to work hard for Coaches Tintle, Arocha and Kalata.

As it often times happens in life, we can get so high when everything is going right, that we get blindsided by a setback to bring us back down to planet earth. This occurred to the tune of FIFTEEN Woodlands Highlanders and one coach catching Covid-19. The season seemed like it could be over just as fast as it started. It was decided by the coaches and board members that there would be no lacrosse activities from March 15 to March 30 or until every player tested negative and the proper time had elapsed.

Would these guys be able to come back from this? Should the season be cancelled? How could they possibly play nine games in 13 days? Will their bodies be too battered to play come playoff time? All of these questions were brought up as part of Coach T's meeting with the players. Well, we all know what came out of that meeting.

This team was going to suck it up and conquer whatever adversity was thrown at them. They wanted to get back to that 'high' feeling they experienced on the flight back from Arizona.

So, you ask how would they be able to make that happen? WINNING that's how! This team with 10 gifted senior leaders were about to go on one of the most entertaining journeys in Highlander Lax history. Long story short, the team traveled all over the state and went 9-2 in 20 days only losing to Westlake and Highland Park by small margins. They pretty much destroyed everyone else. Eventually, they would win the rematch with Westlake with everything on the line in the state quarterfinals...and in dominant fashion. The other team they lost to during that crazy stretch was Highland Park. Isn't it fitting that these two teams will face each other first in the Final Four in Humble on Saturday at noon?

Oh, but like Remco, there's more. It should be pointed out that every player on the team and their coaches operated with the utmost class and were true sportsmen. Through it all, not one player was ever seen or heard making excuses. They went about their business balls to the wall and they are in the Final 4 because they earned it. Yes, THEY EARNED IT and regardless of what comes of this weekend, they will remember this last 45 days for the rest of their lives with pride.

Coach Tintle did his best to describe the season...

'You know, if someone came up with a script about this season and handed it to a film-maker, they'd be laughed at. You just can't make this stuff up. I'm sitting here and although we have a huge weekend coming up, I really can't think of anyone else I'd want to go through this crazy season with. This group of people to include the players, coaches and parents....I just wouldn't change a thing. The way this team operated was all about just one thing at a time. One minute...One quarter...One half....One game...One man-up...one man-down...One goal...One save... No one looked too far ahead. We've been focused and all about the task at hand. No one has strayed. Yes, we still have work to do but I am so proud of these young men and I wish we had more time together.'

This team was fortunate to have some awesome parental leaders such as Allison Kleinpeter and Robin Nunes. Allison shared her thoughts for us...

'This season began with a question mark and will end with an exclamation point. We didn't know if we were going to have a season until Dec 23 when the THSLL gave word it was a go. We were defining Covid protocols, wearing masks and social distancing at practice. We were impacted by schedule changes due to anything from ice storms to Covid-19. We faced the difficulty of team bonding while social distancing. We are proud that all of our lacrosse teams met the challenges we faced this season. The 2021 Class A team has a special chemistry mixed with extremely talented players. There is a level of respect, camaraderie, and commitment among the team. They have started playing for each other which has led to success in overcoming tough opponents. Our Senior led defense and our sophomore heavy offense have proven to be a winning combination. This team has overcome a season riddled with unknowns to make another Final Four appearance for Woodlands Lacrosse and we are extremely proud of their success!'

This article was going to be about names and stats and scores and numbers to give every player credit for their accomplishments so far this season. However, this team is so above all of those things. This team is about how well they operate together and every single player couldn't care less about getting credit for this or that. The team is about the last player on the bench to get in as much as it's about the star midfielder. It's about the film sessions in hotel lobbies. It's about the whole team being present for college signing day watching their teammates have their day. It's about the parent volunteering for the greater good even though their kid seldom plays. It's about the assistant coach/former player warming up the goalies at every practice and game and asking for nothing in return. It's about so much more than a stat sheet.

I'm going to share a quote I heard from National High School Hall of Fame baseball coach, Barry Chasen regarding team chemistry. '

I think 'team chemistry' can be a bit overdone…and yet when guys pull for each other, respect each other and pick each other up, you have team chemistry. When the players think in terms of we, not me, you get it. I’m not sure if there is any magic formula, but it is a combination of factors and winning helps a lot. Not every player hangs out with every other player, but I found that when the majority of the guys did hang together, the teams were real good and they were easier to coach.”

Those close to this team will agree with Coach Chasen.

We hope to see you at Humble's Turner Stadium at noon on Saturday to root on this special group of people.

Here are the names of all of the players....

Matthew Nunes

Grant Isika

Cooper Starcke

Sloan Steward

Logan Hicks

Wes Hinchman

Tobin Miller

Cayden Underwood

Andrew Litsey

Blake Kalata

Nico Barefield

Donovan Rock

Patrick Miller

David Kleinpeter

Logan Bremner

Garrett Coleman

Christian Clinton

Ethan Triem

Alexander Drenth

Jack O'Rourke

Noah Ramirez

Thomas Finta

Aden Isika

Connor Franklin

Owen Markel

Jack Lasko

Photos