Older generation vs. younger generation; Stockstill vs. Stockstill; coaches vs. players. Who will come out on top in Bowie’s lacrosse alumni game? This game started in 2020 and has become an annual thing.
Starting a few years ago in the midst of COVID, the Bowie lacrosse alumni night is a major thing for both the team and the alumni. Preparation goes into account who will be decided as the winner.
“We are preparing all year round, not only for the alumni game but for our other games as well,” junior Daniel Sinton said. “I believe that plays into our success because we are already training and getting ready for season games while also thinking about the alumni game.”
To have good preparation and a good team, a good coach is what is needed to tie everything together. Named 2023 Central District Assistant Coach of the Year, Will Laurel is in his second year as head coach of the Bulldog lacrosse team. Laurel earned many prestigious accolades during his lacrosse career.
“I began playing lacrosse in 8th grade and instantly fell in love with the sport. After graduating from Bowie, I attended Texas State University, where I was a four-year starter and earned All-Conference Goaltender honors three times,” Laurel said. “When the head coaching position at Bowie High School became available, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to give back to the community that had supported me during my high school years.”
Emotions are always high for sports games. It can be even greater when the head coach is also an alumni and gets to be a part of both sides. This is the case for Laurel.
“I am excited to see old friends and connect with multiple generations of Bowie lacrosse,” Laurel said. “As an alumnus, I also have the opportunity of playing. This allows me to develop my relationship with the team and its players.”
Not only is Laurel excited about this game, but so are his players. Many of the Bowie lacrosse team have played in this alumni game before.
“I’m excited to see the old alumni who graduated last year,” Sinton said. “I am scared because they are really good and that will be a problem for us.”
This rivalry alumni game ended a lot closer than most people thought. The veteran alumni just barely pulled it through against the high school team.
“The score was 6-5 alumni and it was a lot closer than I would have assumed,” Sinton said. “Coach Laurel said that was the closest alumni game he had been to.”
Even though this is a special game for both sides, the game doesn’t differ much from a usual lacrosse game which includes four 15-minute quarters.
“It’s a shorter game with shorter quarters,” Sinton said. “Other than that it is a normal game with the same rules and size field as a regular lacrosse game.”
Sinton says lacrosse is a mentally and physically draining sport with all the hits that a player experiences during a long match. Despite the shorter game, it still is physically exhausting like any other lacrosse game or practice.
“There are guys with bruises all over their arms due to the aggressive nature of lacrosse,” Sinton said. “Some of the sticks are made out of kevlar or even steel which can hurt a lot.”
There is a good build-up to this game, some could call it a rivalry. Many alumni come into town ready for the win.
“We usually have pretty good numbers, really it depends on who’s in town, but there is always a good mix of older and younger alumni,” Laurel said. “I don’t believe the high school team has beaten the alumni yet.”
There is one interesting reason for this rivalry between teams. Playing on the high school team is sophomore Arlo Stockstill and his opponent on the alumni team? His dad, Adam Stockstill. Adam has a love for matching up against his son.
“I absolutely love competing against my son. He is a far superior athlete, however, I have years of knowledge and experience to counter that,” Adam said. “Being able to share a passion with a child is one of the most rewarding things as a parent.”
Adam has a lot of previous legacy in the Bowie lacrosse program. Adam was one of the founding members of the boys lacrosse team during the 1991-1992 school year. However, his lacrosse career didn’t stop.
“I was a sophomore at Bowie and it was me and 15 other kids that started the team,” Adam said. “Fast forward two decades and I have been the youth director for Bowie boys lacrosse for the last six years.”
Laurel was very pleased with the result of the game even with his team not taking the victory. He believed it showed some great qualities in the seniors taking charge.
“My biggest takeaway was that we have incredible senior leadership. Our seniors took ownership of the team and held the same expectations as the coaches,” Laurel said. “Usually in alumni games the play is pretty unorganized, but seniors on both sides of the ball were coordinating the offense and the defense.”
In close games like this, it comes down to key standout players on both teams and sides of the ball. Players recognizing their teammates’ distinct efforts brings players into the spotlight.
“Shane Cleary had great handling and was always open to settle the ball so we could make a play,” Sinton said. “Ryan Trueblood brought the ball over in transition playing great defense and offense.”
