JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Bolles girls' lacrosse team wrapped up its first season under new head coach Ann Marie Hawley with an appearance in the regional tournament.
The 23-year-old made history as the first-ever girls lacrosse athlete from Florida to play at Syracuse University. Raised in a family deeply involved in the sport, lacrosse was a constant presence in her life from a young age.
"My dad played and was my coach. And with three brothers, we just always had a stick in our hand, and I can't remember a time without it," she reminisces.
However, Ann Marie's time at Syracuse was cut short due to medical disqualification in her sophomore year. Battling through ten knee surgeries since eighth grade, the roller coaster of playing and not playing took a toll on her both physically and mentally.
"I've had 10 knee surgeries since eighth grade until about three years ago. It was kind of just a roller coaster of ups and downs of playing and not playing. It really affected me in school, with family, and with friends more than I realized," she admits.
Opting to prioritize her mental health, Hawley made the difficult decision to step away from the game completely. Setting goals for herself outside of lacrosse, she discovered a passion for surfing and found solace in yoga.
"I didn't think I would come back to lacrosse, really. But I set some goals for myself to learn something different outside of lacrosse. And it kind of just took off. I fell in love with surfing. Yoga's been great just to stay in shape and just kind of go inward."
Now serving as the Bolles Girls Lacrosse Head Coach, Hawley emphasizes the importance of personal growth over athletic achievement.
"Grow more as a person than an athlete out here. Everything you take on the field can be taken elsewhere, into class, relationships with family or work, or any goals you have," she advises her athletes.
Despite her physical limitations, Hawley remains dedicated to coaching, navigating the challenges with resilience.
"Trying to teach them without showing them because I still can't really run and play like I did," she acknowledges.
Moving forward, Hawley embraces her journey with a simple mantra: "One day at a time."
Through perseverance and determination, she continues to inspire both on and off the lacrosse field, embodying the resilience of an athlete turned coach.