The Skyline Women’s Lacrosse team is working through a challenging 2026 season, but players say the atmosphere around the program is what makes everything worth it. With a tough schedule full of top Utah teams, the Eagles have learned to rely on each other more than anything. For many of them, the environment they’ve built is the highlight of the year.
For Freshman midfielder Avery Holmes, the season started with a moment she had been hoping for since middle school. She said, “I was very excited, because I worked hard to get here and play with great players and also to learn from the Varsity girls.”
Holmes said the older players helped her settle in right away, making the jump to Varsity feel a lot less intimidating. “Whenever I have a question, they always make sure that it’s answered and don’t make me feel dumb when I ask questions,” she said.
Freshman Harper Riley added that the kind of support that is given to each other is a big part of what makes Skyline’s atmosphere so strong. She said, “It’s super positive in and out of practice, and it’s a great environment.”
Even during tough games, like the early‑season matchups against Park City, Highland, and Riverton, the team’s energy doesn’t fade or disappear. Holmes said she didn’t expect the positivity to be so exhilarating, especially when the scoreboard isn’t in their favor.
“It surprised me how positive we actually are, ’cause even when we’re losing by 12, we’re always cheering for each other. Even when a goal goes in for the other team, we’re cheering for our goalies,” she explained.
Holmes has played lacrosse for years, and joining the high‑school team felt like the next step up. She said she wanted to grow as a player while also meeting new people. “I love lacrosse. I’ve been playing for a while, so I figured that playing high school lacrosse would be a good opportunity to meet new people,” she stated.
That decision has already paid off. Skyline’s roster includes players from different grades, backgrounds, and club teams; Holmes and Riley said that the mix is one of their favorite parts of the season.
“[The girls are] so nice and so fun to hang out with,” Riley explained, saying that the team’s energy off the field is just as strong as it is during games and that being surrounded by people who enjoy each other makes their atmosphere even stronger than it already was.
As the Eagles move deeper into their region schedule, they’re hoping their chemistry can help them push through the second half of the season. Holmes said the friendships she’s made are already one of the biggest things she’ll take away from her Freshman year.
She explained, “There’s so many different types of people that are amazing, and I’m learning so much from all of them.”
And for Riley as well, the heart of Skyline Lacrosse comes back to the same thing, the feeling that keeps the team connected no matter what the scoreboard says: “It’s a great environment.”
