The boys’ lacrosse team will open the season at Cocoa Beach on Tuesday at 6 p.m., but not before participating in a Saturday preseason tournament against Melbourne and Rockledge which will be held at Melbourne Central Catholic.

“[ The scrimmage ] will let the captains and coaches know where we are as a team and if we are ready for the game on Tuesday,” Nicholas McKnight (12) said.

The team has been preparing five days a week for about two hours each day. 

“We have been working really hard at practice and are excited to see all our work to pay off,” Zachary Johnson (9)  said. 

At practice, the team can be found working on building a stronger defense.

“I find it most productive when we spend our time working on certain plays that you can’t work on without the team,” Hayden Nowak-Vansant (10) said.

The players tend to share a common goal.

“My goal for this year is to have a winning season,” Johnson said. “This year will likely be our best year ever, so we are looking to capitalize on that.”

McKnight has set even loftier expectations.

“My goal for the team this season is to try and get to the top,” he said. “We have very capable members on the team and other teams have lost a lot of their good players.”

Each practice concludes with the team coming together in a ritual breakout.

“When we all come together and unanimously yell ‘Wildcats.’ It makes our team feel united,” Nowak-Vansant said. “It’s just a good feeling.”