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Twin titles make Will Garrett's senior year a dream
The Buffalo Bills — well-publicized losers of four straight Super Bowls from 1991 to 1994 — can relate to what the Highland School boys lacrosse team endured for six consecutive years.
From 2003 through 2008, the Hawks lost in the state championship game each year.
It was a remarkable streak really, characterized by great success and disappointment.
After experiencing three of those state final losses himself, senior attacker and captain Will Garrett was ready to help change his school's destiny his final year.
Last fall, Highland, with Garrett excelling as a speedy flank midfielder, won the boys state soccer title.
The vibe carried into the spring, as Highland upset state No. 1 Virginia Episcopal School, 18-9, to win its first lacrosse crown.
“We won the soccer title, so we thought ‘Why can’t we win the lacrosse title?’” said Garrett.
Garrett cemented his name in the Highland record book with two goals and two assists in the final as the Hawks delivered that long-awaited Virginia Independent Schools Division II title to complete one of Highland’s most memorable athletic seasons.
Garrett not only has two state championships to cherish, but he leaves as Highland's all-time leading lacrosse scorer with 405 points. Garrett amassed 224 goals and 181 assists for his illustrious four-year career.
He earned some individual honors, too, including today's recognition as the Fauquier Times-Democrat 2009 Highland Boys Athlete of the Year.
“It was a really exciting week and year,” said Garrett, who recently was named to the All-American team by US Lacrosse for the second consecutive year. “This is a great way to end my senior year.”
It started with dad
Lacrosse is a family affair for the Garretts, with father Bill having deep involvement in the sport. Bill played lacrosse at Washington and Lee University and won a high school’s state championship in New Jersey. Will was in fourth grade when his dad introduced him to the sport. Will went on to play for the Loudoun FuZe travel team.
Garrett’s journey at Highland began his freshman year when he transferred from the Loudoun County school system.
“I felt more like a number there than a person,” Garrett said of his public school experience. “I like the small size of Highland.”
The transition was successful as Garrett and the Hawks advanced to the 2006 state semifinal match at Notre Dame Academy. With a berth in the title game on the line, Garrett — motivated by the biggest crowd he'd ever seen for a lacrosse game — broke a 6-6 tie with a wraparound goal with nine seconds remaining.
The freshman saw a defender trip and pounced, producing the winning goal that sent Highland onto the state final.
“That was a pretty defining moment,” Highland coach Kevin Helmick said. “For him to have the presence of mind at that point was incredible.”
The Hawks fell to The Covenant School 8-6 in the state final.
Garrett said a loss to Notre Dame 8-7 in the the state final his sophomore season was the most disappointing of his high school career. Highland advanced to the championship with a resounding 13-4 victory over Virginia Episcopal School,setting the stage for the history breakthrough.
Garrett had four goals against in the final vs. Notre Dame, but the Hawks could not pull out a tense, extremely even affair against their Middleburg rival...
See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.
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