Emmaline Conner: A study in class, sportsmanship and mental toughness

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands Online Player of the Week is none other than Lady Highlander Lacrosse goalie, Emmaline Conner.

We are constantly bragging about the young people in this community. I don't know if it's because of something in the water, good parenting, good coaching, good teaching or just that these kids are naturally awesome. Let's just agree it's a combination of all of the above.

We’ll get into how good of a lacrosse goaltender Emmaline is. First, let’s find out how good of a person she is.

Tracing Emmaline back to kindergarten, we find that Emmaline would come home after school and share how she made a new friend every time a new kid moved in. She always befriended the new kids and made them feel welcome.

When she was in 5th grade she participated in DI (Destination Imagination) and her parents would watch her navigate the group dynamics. Emmaline always tried to help every kid get heard in their meetings. The most frustrating part for her was how the group would get nowhere for weeks until she decided to be more active in making the decisions that no one wanted to make. That experience helped her to differentiate between “everyone’s ideas are great” to “everyone deserves to be heard, but we can only use actual great ideas.”

Let’s hear from Emmaline directly…

1) How long have you been playing lacrosse?

I have been playing lacrosse since 2nd grade, and goalie since 3rd. I was actually supposed to do an I9 camp that was soccer and lacrosse but it got canceled and I was devastated. My mom signed me up for The Woodlands youth program and I immediately loved it. When I was a lot younger, I was in dance and track but it was really always lacrosse.

2) Describe the 2026 TWHS lacrosse team and why you enjoy playing for the Highlanders?

I believe the 2026 team is going to go extremely far and I genuinely think we can and will win state this year. We have a lot of talent and good team chemistry! I like playing with the Highlanders because I have grown up with a lot of these girls and I think it’s amazing how much we have all grown and changed and how so many of us are going to play at the college level.

3) Do you like attending Tomball HS? (If a student’s high school does not offer lacrosse, they play at the geographically closest school that does)

I do like attending Tomball High School! I have a very good friend group and community.

4) You signed with University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. Do you know what your field of study will be?

Yes, I will be majoring in Exercise Science and I’m going to also minor in French.

5) What do you hope to be doing after you graduate from college?

I plan to be a pediatric physical therapist and I also want to be fluent in French. I also hope to see the seven wonders of the world and travel a lot. I love hiking and I hope I am able to do a lot of hiking around the world!

6) What do you enjoy doing away from school and lacrosse?

I love watching TikTok lol. I also love hiking and camping in nature and national parks. I also love hanging out with my friends!

7) Who is your role model for lacrosse?

My lacrosse role model is Shea Dolce!

8) Describe how supportive your family is in everything you do in your life.

My family has been extremely supportive throughout my entire lacrosse career, especially throughout all of my recruitment for college. The entire summer before my junior year I spent with my dad going from camp to camp and school to school and the whole time he was extremely supportive. Especially during the recruiting process. I tended to be hard on myself and pick out everything I would mess up on, and my parents would always reinforce in me that I was a talented player who was capable and skilled.

9) If you were given a million dollars and had to give it to one charity, which one would you choose and why?

I would donate to Doctors Without Borders. They are providing medical assistance around the world to people who really need it.

10) Three things that people don't know about you.

I speak a little French and plan to one day become fluent, I LOVE Crumbl, and in 3rd grade I almost quit lacrosse but my parents bought me a bunch of woodlands gear so I felt bad and stayed (I’m so glad I did).

12) What is your favorite song in your phone now? Do you have a favorite group?

My favorite songs right now are Cleopatra, Sleep on the Floor, and Angela the Lumineers as well as Ends of the Earth by Lord Huron. My favorite group is the Lumineers, I love all of their songs and I was able to go to their concert last October!

13) Your favorite movie of all time.

My favorite movies are Set It Up and Ocean’s 8.

14) If you were sentenced to death but you were allowed to go on one last date, who would the lucky guy be?

To be honest I don’t know. LOL

15) When is the last time you danced? You any good?

The last time I danced with someone was last summer and I would say I’m decent at dancing, but not the best.

16) What are your thoughts on sports specialization at a young age?

I think kids should be able to try out lots of different sports before they decide. If a kid is very into the sport, then yes they can focus on that one specifically, but a parent should not choose a sport and force the kid into it.

TWHS head lacrosse coach Riley Halloran shared her thoughts on Emmaline….

“Emmaline is the backbone of our defense and someone our team leans on every single day. As a captain, she leads with composure and holds everyone — including herself — to a high standard. In the cage, she’s calm, vocal, and competitive, and she gives our team so much confidence. What makes her special goes beyond lacrosse. She’s steady, selfless, and someone her teammates genuinely trust. She makes the people around her better. We’re excited for her senior season and can’t wait to watch her compete at the next level.”

The best thing about Emmaline is if you met her away from the lacrosse field, you'd never in a million years think she's a fierce competitor in the athletic arena. She's the sweetest, most caring person you'll ever meet. She's always looking out for people who could use a lift and does her best to put smiles on their faces.

However, don't be fooled. If you're playing against Emmaline, she will do her best to beat your friggin brains in. Her competitive fire is unrivaled. Come to think of it, she may even cuss at you in French!

This young woman is the total package.

You want Emmaline Conner in your life.

After this season, Emmaline will be off to Colorado and a new and exciting chapter of her life.

One thing is for sure, Emmaline will be sorely missed on and off the field around these parts.

Comments to Doug Sarant at dsarant50@gmail.com

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