This thread will be used for discussion and coverage of the Skywalkers Girls Lacrosse program.

Program History

The Sky Walkers Lacrosse Program was founded in 1997 with a single team of high school athletes, most of whom would graduate in 2000. The first team included my daughter Molly McLaughlin.

The goal of the Program was to teach the Sky Walkers that by playing with "no limitations" they could achieve a level of freedom, which would allow them to be recruited to compete at the collegiate level.

When the first Sky Walkers' team graduated in 2000, with all the seniors going to Division I colleges to play lacrosse, there remained approximately four players, who were underclassmen, who wanted to continue to play. As a result, the 2nd Sky Walker team was formed. By the time the members of the second team graduated from high school as future collegiate athletes, a determination was reached to form a permanent lacrosse program for girls.

Within a year or so, it was felt that two teams per year could play with similar success for each team. Since 2003 the Sky Walkers have fielded two teams per year – Sky Walkers Blue & White. The goal of each team is to develop collectively and individually into collegiate lacrosse athletes.

The ultimate desire of the Program is to utilize lacrosse as an opportunity to compete at the highest collegiate level. This experience – which challenges a player constantly to face competition, overcome adversity, and develop self-confidence – will forge the player into a young woman. This young woman will be prepared to face any situation knowing that she can succeed in any endeavor or profession she chooses to pursue in life.

The guiding principles of the Program are that a girl who is an athlete; who possesses parents who will allow the journey to be their daughter's journey; and who has character (along with a good academic record), can succeed as a collegiate lacrosse player. It is that player, who develops a passion for the game; who is willing to work harder than any other player; and who is able to believe she has "no limitations" on the field who will realize her dream. The Sky Walkers Lacrosse Program holds that it is not winning, which will allow a player to succeed; rather, it is the journey during which each and every player progressively develops and matures into an athlete.

The Program is honored that two Tewaaraton winners, Katie Chrest (SW 2002) from Duke University and Caitlyn McFadden (SW 2006) from the University of Maryland are Sky Walker Alumnae. The Program likewise is honored that the National Defender of the year in 2009 and 2010, Sarah McKinley (SW 2006) from Salisbury University is an alumna. Further, two Sky Walkers were selected as Female Athletes of the Year in their senior year, namely, Emily Franke (SW 2007), a Vanderbilt Commodore, and Corey Donohoe (SW 2007), a University of North Carolina Tarheel. Moreover, Sarah Flynn (SW 2007) received the Outstanding Achievement Award upon her graduation from Stanford University.

Numerous Sky Walkers have been chosen as All-Americans, team captains, and showered with other similar honors. Countless Sky Walkers have been nominated to play on the United States Teams - both Developmental and Elite.

A recent development with the Sky Walkers' alumnae is the significant number of players, who have chosen to become coaches in the college ranks. It is a tribute to the Sky Walkers' passion for the game and desire to pass on their successful experiences as college athletes to young women, who are following their paths.

A matter of singular pride is the number of outstanding "teachers" who have given their time, talent, and passion by coaching the Sky Walkers' teams from the onset of the Program to the present. They did and continue to imbue the players with the knowledge that developing as a Sky Walker into a collegiate athlete is a life-lesson, which they will learn as Sky Walkers then carry with them for the rest of their lives. Then there are the fathers and mothers, who have volunteered to be team parents. These individuals are the glue, which helps make the Program successful.

A question frequently posited is why was the Program named "Sky Walkers." It was my desire to teach the players to feel they had no limits so could walk in the sky by feeling so free about their play.