Two minutes and two seconds into overtime, CJ Taylor scores the game-winning goal against Oakridge to win the CIF Section Championships.
“At first I was stunned and in shock,” Taylor said. “It hadn’t registered. We had just won the section championship. As I ran to celebrate with my team, all the early mornings, late nights and countless hours put into this team had finally felt paid off.”
Men’s varsity lacrosse is a tight-knit team. After losing only two seniors after the 2023-24 season, the team built stronger bonds. As the season ended, they were as close as ever. The program has only existed for six years, a newer sport on campus, compared to Oakridge’s program. Their high-energy practices translated into a high-energy game for fans to witness.
“The team atmosphere was crazy,” Lukas Tallent said. “I mean you could just feel the tension, the excitement, the nervousness, even when they went on the field, you could feel the energy they were putting out. They were ready to put their all on the field, and that’s what they did.”
The game started with a low for the men’s varsity lacrosse team, after losing the opening faceoff. In the second half, Lucas Beaulieu scored four out of his five goals this game. At the end of the clock, Whitney trailed 9-8 with two minutes remaining. After a defensive play by Oak Ridge freshman Miles Johnson, the Trojans had accepted victory. In a quick turnaround, though, Lucas Beaulieu took advantage of a late turnover and made an equalizing goal with 1:03 remaining. Taylor scored two goals as well as Beaulieu’s five. Gage Armstrong, Kaleb Rodgers and Reed Van Stralen completed the score, each with one goal.
“I feel like all the hard work paid off big time in the championship game,” Taylor said. “Because of practice, I was conditioned, focused, loose, relaxed and just having fun.”
This was the men’s varsity lacrosse team’s first section win, but the game was close until its end. Oakridge had a substantial lead in the first quarter, 4-0. At the half, the score had moved to 5-4, Oakridge. Then after a packed third quarter, the game was tied 8-8. With a minute left in the game, the tie remained at 9-9.
“At the beginning of the game I was really nervous, but by the end with the student section backing us up, I started feeling really confident,” Gavin Raleigh said. “When we got the ball in offense I couldn’t watch because of how nervous I was, but I knew if I gave them an opportunity they’d capitalize off it.”
Raleigh played the entire game, and was led by captains Evan Jepson, Joe Ligas, Logan Sindelar and Jack Beaulieu. Along with being first in the section, they are eighth in the state and 56th in the country. Their section championship game attracted over 100 fans, led by next year’s Voice of Whitney, Lukas Tallent.
“To be able to be there for such a big moment was a blessing,” Tallent said. “It was probably top ten games that I’ve been to at Whitney High School. To be there when it’s so electric, so close, championship on the line, it was a different feeling.”
by SARAH CHOI, ISABELL HERNANDEZ AND CARSON NICHOLS
