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closePanthers show skills in prestigious tourney
Puyallup lacrosse squad registers respectable sixth place finish in Bothell
Shaun Scott
The Puyallup Panthers seventh/eighth grade lacrosse team showed the Pacific Northwest how talented of a squad they were at “The Battle of Bothell” lacrosse tournament on June 21.
When it was all over, the Panthers earned sixth place out of 62 teams in attendance from the Pacific Northwest and Canada, registering victories against North Shore, Lynnwood and West Linn. The Panthers’ performance in the tourney was all the more remarkable considering their mediocre 8-7 regular season record.
“We weren’t expected to do that well but the chance to play with high level competition turned out to be a great learning experience for them. We just clicked,” Panthers coach Graham Abbott said. “We showed we could match up with teams with a high caliber of play. That’s why we entered the tournament.”
Abbott believes team chemistry also played a pivotal role in their success.
“As a coach I feel really blessed,” Abbott said. “Everybody busted their tail and took their roles and responsibilities seriously. There was no cliques on this team. I’ve coached various types of different sports over the past 25 years and I have to say this is the best team I’ve ever coached. I’m extremely proud of their efforts.”
Eighth graders Robert Abbott and Nolan Ernst combined to score 20 goals during tournament play.
“For both of these guys it was their last year on the eighth grade team. Next year they will be moving up to the high school level of play,” Abbott said.
Abbott was ecstatic his Puyallup squad was able to show the state what kind of program is being built in East Pierce County.
“We don’t have a long tradition here and are usually viewed as those guys from down south without a lot of respect from teams in the lacrosse hotbed of Seattle and the east side. We finished ahead of powerhouse teams Mercer Island, Bainbridge, Bellevue and University Place at this tourney. I’m proud of those achievements for the program.”