This episode sponsored by Tequila Komos, Kathy L Wall State Farm Agency, and SA Oral Surgeons. To learn more about our sponsors visit Tequila Komos, Kathy L Wall State Farm Agency and SA Oral Surgeons
This episode sponsored by Tequila Komos, Kathy L Wall State Farm Agency, and SA Oral Surgeons. To learn more about our sponsors visit Tequila Komos, Kathy L Wall State Farm Agency and SA Oral Surgeons
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Speaker 1:I'm Martha Jackson and last year I had the opportunity of going to Highland Park La Crosse game for the first time and I was blown away. I was so impressed with this program the coaches, the team, the parents, the community for coming out and supporting and we've been going to the games again this year and just wow. So I'm so excited about today's episode when we have the captains joining us this week. They're going to share what it's like to be on the number one La Crosse team in Texas. Joining us today is Keller Holmes, hudson Jones, brian Rapp and Harris Sands. This episode sponsored by Stuart Arango, oral Surgery learn more at SAOeralsurgeonscom and Kathy L Wall State Farm Agency Learn more at KathyLWallcom. Guys, welcome to the podcast. Thank you for being here today. Let's start by going around the table, introduce yourselves and tell us what position you play.
Speaker 2:I'm Hudson Jones and I play defensive midfielder.
Speaker 3:Brian Rapp. I play midfield. Here's Sands I play attack.
Speaker 4:Keller Holmes, I play defense.
Speaker 1:Well, the season literally just started and you had your second game this past weekend, where you played Culver Academy, who's ranked number two in the country. Tell me how you prepared for the game.
Speaker 2:It was a lot, a lot of mental preparation, in my opinion, more than the physical part of it. Just having the number two team in the country come down was a lot to handle for, I think, all of us. But that was my thought on it.
Speaker 3:I think it was really big for us to be confident going in, not really looking at the rankings of them, but just be confident that we have a good team, we're confident in each other and that we can do it.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I think they're just an ordinary team. They're not nothing. They weren't the chiefs or anything. We were preparing like a normal game and we just kind of yeah.
Speaker 4:Yeah, there was a lot to go into it. We know the opponent and we know they're a very respectful opponent. So we had to really kind of look at their scouting report and kind of see what situations we put ourselves in best to succeed against a team like that. And just a lot of preparation and practice and just getting ready for the game and I think it really helped.
Speaker 1:Well, tell me, how do you get in the right mindset for a game such as this? Like you were talking about just the mental toughness, I know it was also physically tough as well. But how do you prepare to get in that right frame of mind to be able to take someone on like this?
Speaker 2:I would say one thing that really helps is Coach Pressler talking to us. He's really good at kind of getting us ready for the games. He gives us a lot of fun stories from his past like coaching years and college, and all of those really help us kind of get our mind right and know that it's nothing like US vs Russia, it's just Holland Park vs Culver. He did a really good job getting all of us ready.
Speaker 1:He really seems like he is really good at motivating. I was in a parent meeting just last week as well and to hear him tell some of these stories like what you're saying was really pretty amazing and I could tell that he had been really working with you all and just how you were going to approach it when you came out to the field and they were warming up and you were warming up and it was really fascinated to hear him talk about that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, all of his stories are pretty awesome.
Speaker 1:So what got you all interested in lacrosse? I mean, there's so many opportunities, especially at Highland Park, to be involved in so many different things, whether it's academics or sports. And why lacrosse? And do you play any other sports?
Speaker 2:I just play lacrosse now. I played football up until sophomore year and I got into lacrosse just because I was in second grade and my parents needed me out of the house. They just wanted me to play some sports, try something new, and I've loved it ever since, been my favorite sport since then.
Speaker 3:I first started playing lacrosse, I believe in second grade, but I originally started playing in Boston, massachusetts. That's where I lived prior to Dallas. I moved to Dallas in seventh grade and I've just loved the HP program ever since, and mainly the past two years with coach Pressler. It's just really made me love it and I love coming to play every day.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I started playing first grade. My brother always played, so he paved the way for me, so I just followed his footsteps and I played football until junior year.
Speaker 4:For me it was, I believe, in second grade when I started playing lacrosse and I just fell in love with it, just to compete like there's nothing like that, and just playing like kind of through elementary school, middle school, up into high school. Like I love the way it progresses and like it's bigger with like each kind of like year you go through it. And I think with playing football too, it kind of is like a balance between two different sports and I love both of them. So I just really liked kind of doing two different things, because you get two different perspectives of like the compete level.
Speaker 1:You guys have all been playing for quite some time now, but it is my understanding that it is possible to start playing lacrosse a little bit later in life. Would you agree with that?
Speaker 2:For sure. Yes, ma'am, I have a lot of friends that started playing seventh, eighth freshman year, so there's no set time that you need to start playing. It's a hard sport to pick up, but it's a lot of fun and it's easy to catch on and if you practice hard it will pay off and it's just a lot of fun to play, so I recommend it for anyone.
Speaker 3:I couldn't agree more. I think, especially down in the south, it's kind of picked up later in the years and I think it's really grown and just in high school kids can pick it up freshman year and they're becoming seniors and being one of the best players on the team. So I think even though it may seem like a hard sport, you work for it. You can definitely be pretty good.
Speaker 5:Yeah, like Brian said, it's like, especially in the South, it's kind of like the training sport right now along with football, and so I think you know lacrosse and football especially is a good combination. They kind of balance out each other. So, especially at Highland Park. So, like Hudson said, I'd recommend it to anyone.
Speaker 4:So yeah, I think the Highland Park program, like in all, is a great place to start. Like Hudson was saying, if you're a freshman, just kind of starting a new sport, I think they really help you like develop as a player and especially as a person like outside of lacrosse, and I really like that about this place and I think that will really help a lot of kids.
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Speaker 1:Visit SAOralSurgeonscom. That's SAOralSurgeonscom. Let's go back to the Culver Academy game for just a minute. I was there super impressed, thought you guys did an amazing job. I really felt like you held your own. Tell us what were some of the takeaways from playing a game, a team such as Culver Academy, and how those lessons will help you going forward for the rest of the season.
Speaker 2:It was super fun game for sure and I would say a lot of us took away that whatever we like train for and practice for and like work for is something that we can do. I think a lot of people that in the state of Texas and that knew about our game. I don't think anyone was thinking that we would be close with them at all and losing by six wasn't fun, but it's not as much as you think and I just think that if you work hard for something then, like that game, there's a lot more we can do in the future.
Speaker 3:I think, even though we didn't win, we learned a ton of lessons as a team Just who we are. The scoreboard didn't go our way, but I couldn't be prouder of the guys, Just how hard everyone was fighting that game. There wasn't a guy who wasn't giving 100%. Every time everyone was on the field they were giving everything they had. You can tell after the game we were all burned, we were all tired, but we're all proud of each other. Even though, like I said, we didn't win, we couldn't be prouder of how we fought.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I think it just shows by holding around with that team it just shows, I think, we're capable, just as capable as last year, to go for another state title. So I think that was kind of a big lesson out of that game. If we put our minds to preparing week in, week out, just like that game, then there's the sky's the limit for us.
Speaker 4:I mean, yeah, I had a lot of fun in that game. Be able to compete against a top program like that is just fun at first, and then, in-game competing, you're with some of your best friends and you just get to have fun and play the sport you love. And, like Brian said, I couldn't be proud of this team and we fought like for every single ground ball. Every single faceoff was a fight and I just think the scoreboard doesn't show it. And I think there's a lot to improve on going forward, which it comes with every sport improvements and I just really think this team can be special.
Speaker 1:Well, you really have to watch the game to fully appreciate it and if any of you missed it, you can watch it at Game On Sports on YouTube. So just Google it, you'll find it and you'll be able to watch it. But it's definitely worth your time to watch. So Highland Park won state championship last year, which was absolutely amazing. I was there for that in the rain and all that. It was such a good game, so close and really intense and lots of fan turnout. But I'm wondering for you all as team captains. I know that's a lot of pressure because you're on the road to repeat and you're wanting to do it again. What is it like being a captain right now? I would imagine that's a lot of pressure. How are you motivating the team?
Speaker 2:For me. I just trying to keep everyone accountable, doing the right things on and off the field, and it's a huge accomplishment, I would say, to have your team vote on you as a captain and just being a vocal leader, doing everything the right way, trying to have the younger guys look up to us, I think is a huge part of being a captain.
Speaker 3:I think the biggest thing for us about winning a state championship last year is a mix between kind of realizing this is a new year, it's a different team, different season, and kind of realizing that it's not going to be like last year, it's going to be harder, people are going to want to beat us, we're going to be everyone's best game but also using last year to kind of Realize we have experience, We've played in those big games and just to keep us more calm under those pressure moments.
Speaker 5:Yeah, kind of like Brian said, kind of like every team that plays us now in Texas, we kind of have like a target on our head. So we kind of have to be aware of that and kind of approach every game like it's our last game and just kind of go all out because it's going to be twenty times harder this year to do it again. So we just got to be prepared.
Speaker 4:Yeah, it was a great experience last year. Going through like tough games down the stretch and eventually coming out on top and winning a state championship was awesome. But, like Brian said, it's a new year. A lot of new things like adversity is going to come our way and I was honored same with these guys like to be a captain of this team and I really think it's a privilege in that we have to lead this team and lead our guys and just make sure everyone's on the same page and in the same mindset that we can repeat.
Speaker 1:Well, I feel like La Crosse is really rising in popularity in the south, especially Texas, and a lot of that has to do with you guys winning last year and you've always been a great team. But just the excitement of the new coach Pressler being here, but that turnout at your game on Saturday was insane. How did that make you guys feel to see those stands filled, especially with students?
Speaker 2:It was awesome. A lot of my friends went and they all had a ton of fun and just seeing a lot of the school come out and support us and a big game like that it meant a lot to, I know, not just me, but the whole team. We all talked about how awesome it was, just everyone being there, not only the students but the parents and everyone else that came. It was just an awesome experience.
Speaker 3:I think it definitely helps us tremendously. I know if I were an opponent player I would not be looking forward to coming into their stadium and playing in front of our fans. They get after them a little, and I think that's what we love about them. They're exciting, they bring the energy for us.
Speaker 1:Yeah, they were definitely rowdy and on fire on Saturday.
Speaker 5:Yeah for sure, definitely towards the third, fourth quarter. When we're getting tired, they provide an extra boost of energy, which is kind of nice.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I mean, when you run out of the tunnel and see all your boys in the stands, it's pretty nice just to know that they care and they come to support you in what you do and just seeing all those people up there that you know that they care and, like all of them said, they brought the energy. We could definitely feel their presence in the stands and the other team is a tacman and specific could definitely feel the energy in the stands.
Speaker 4:I just really think we thrive off that. It just shows the community that Highland Park has and I think we're just so like tightly wound and we love the support of all the fans.
Speaker 1:Hey friends, if you love this episode or you're a fan of the Bubble Lounge podcast, follow us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Just tap the follow button at the top of the screen if you're a fan of the Bubble Lounge. And, even better, send me a text message with the word Bubble to 469-757-2500. Just open your messages, type in my number, 469-757-2500, with the message Bubble. Once you send me a text, I will add you to our list and send you a text message whenever a new episode is published. So follow us on Apple Podcasts and make sure to send me a text so you'll never miss an episode. Something we always like to talk about when we have our student athletes on is just how do you guys balance everything. There's a lot of pressure to be a teenager in general these days, but to be a Highland Park student balancing with sports and then, of course, being a team captain on top of that, how do you guys make it all happen?
Speaker 2:I would say the best way I'd put it is you go to school and school at Highland Park it's tough, but for me I've always viewed as practice as a way to just kind of get away from everything and just like clear my head, like not worry about homework or a test or anything, and just go to practice and do what I love and have fun. And that comes with working hard at practice as well. And so that two, two and a half hour span where we're in La Crosse meetings or we're at practice is kind of my time to free my head and just only worry about La Crosse. And after I, if I've got a test, I spend some time studying. But the best way I would say to manage it is just to use your, your practice time as kind of a time to free your head and just play.
Speaker 3:I think a big thing for me is just leaning on the people around you. You got all your teammates going through. They all got work, they're all at practice with you. So I think when you're all going through it together, it helps a lot, because everyone's worried about school after and they can just put aside for those two hours before practice. We're just focusing on practice and I think we all get that because we're all going through it together. So I think that makes a major difference.
Speaker 5:Yeah, for sure. I think, like Hudson said, like practice is just kind of a way to just kind of clear your head and kind of like just not worry about academics or anything. But I learned like freshman year, like just to get in like good habits, like when you like right, when you get out from school just like study for like 30 minutes and then you know or whatever you need to do, and then just that practice year, just it's La Crosse.
Speaker 4:So yeah, yeah, I think it was kind of hard to me first to balance school and sports, because obviously I love to play sports a lot more than new school. And then I kind of hit me like I feel like doing your schoolwork, you try to get it done, and then La Crosse is like reward, like after for it. So I think balancing it is just kind of like kind of like what Brian said like everyone around you, like your teammates, are going through the same thing you're doing and you just kind of have to do it for them, like because you don't want to jeopardize the team by kind of not doing what you're supposed to do in the classroom. And I think just doing it for the guys around you is the most important part.
Speaker 1:I hope all you younger kids are listening to this. All good advice. Thank you so much for sharing that. So we talked a lot about your time on the field and practices and things like that, but you all also spend quite a bit of time doing things outside of practice as far as helping the team unite and become a little bit more bonded and really getting to know each other. Tell us a little bit about that.
Speaker 2:I would say we have team dinners before all of our games, which are super fun, and everyone always fights about who's getting food first, and last which usually ends up being the seniors down to the freshmen.
Speaker 2:But, yeah, the team we'd love to get together, hang out, everyone's, everyone's so close on the team, not only last year but, or not only this year but last year, but everyone on the team. Even we have two freshmen on the team this year and they've both become two of my good friends because we just we'd love to be around each other and we're always having fun on or off the field.
Speaker 3:I think it makes a huge difference. I think one of the biggest pieces to our success last year was just how close we were and how we just we wanted to win for each other, we wanted to play for each other, and I think it's super helpful. I mean, we're together a lot, we spend a lot of time together, and I just think it really brings us closer and makes us a much better team.
Speaker 5:Yeah, like Brian and Hudson said, like I feel like the more you know especially last year and this year we were really tight and just all really close to each other, and so it kind of the more close we are, the more like we want to play for each other and, you know, win for each other. So I think that's, we all have that chemistry which kind of helps we want to, you know, win for each other. So I think that's a big part of it.
Speaker 4:Yeah, kind of like what Alden said last year we were really close and some of those guys returned from last year, or a lot of them, and I think that's really important that we're just kind of like a brotherhood now, like we spend so much time together, like whether it's team dinners, practice every day during the games and then celebrating after the games, like I think that's a really fun thing that we do, and it's just every single time we just like. I mean, we know each other very well now and I think that allows us to have the success we do, because we can rely on each other and trust each other.
Speaker 1:I agree. It just really helps to have each other's back, especially when you know each other on a personal level. Well, a question I always like to ask you guys is about your parents, especially in this stands. Are any of your parents like really vocal and you can hear them on the field and you're thinking, god, could you just stop?
Speaker 2:it dad. For me my mom is not too loud. I've heard her a few times but my dad's always really into it. He's always standing up in his dad pose with his arms crossed. He does it not only in my games, but he's been probably kicked out of a few of my sister soccer games so he can get pretty rowdy. It's super hard to hear on the field most of the times because you're so just dialed into the games, but there's definitely been a few times throughout high school that I've been able to hear my dad.
Speaker 3:My mom's. I don't hear too much in the stands. I can't really hear much going on in the stands, but my dad's a spotter and kind of like Hudson said, every time I run on the sideline I see him with his arms crossed and wearing his camo HP hat. So I know he's intently watching me.
Speaker 5:Yeah, I know Keller's dad gets pretty rowdy sometimes. But yeah, my mom gets, I don't know. Yeah, she screams a little bit. My dad's kind of more like conserved, more like quiet, but I don't know.
Speaker 4:So yeah, yeah, I think my dad's kind of like every lacrosse dad, just hands crossed, shades on and hat on, just kind of observing, not saying much. But my mom gets very into the games and like I can definitely hear, like if I hear a scream from the sideline, I know her voice and I know she's bickering at the other team for some or something they did, and this past game I could definitely hear a lot. So she brings the presence but I like the energy she brings.
Speaker 1:Well, you know, along with that, the lacrosse is a very heavy time commitment sport. A lot of most of you probably play on travel teams during the summer and the parents are going with you and all the practices each week. Probably not so bad for your parents right now because you guys are older, but as a freshman I can tell you there's a lot of driving back and forth to MoneyGram and this place in that place. Tell me what your thoughts are on how much time and effort your parents also put into this game.
Speaker 2:It's incredible there's. If they weren't so supportive of it, there's no way that I'd be playing right now. Thanks, mom and dad, if you are listening. But yeah, they all the parents I know spend a lot of time just working and they've got it. They've got their own lives and they care a lot about lacrosse. So it's just a big deal to know that they'll take time out of their day, even as a whenever I was a freshman, it drive me 20 minutes to MoneyGram and come pick me up. So, yeah, it's a big deal.
Speaker 3:It's more than 20 minutes, by the way, yeah the amount of effort my parents have put in is tremendous. I mean it went from freshman and sophomore year all summer, my dad being in Baltimore, new Jersey, wherever it may be spending that summer with me and not being home. So definitely just a ton of effort there which I'm very thankful for. And I'm sure my mom was very happy when I got my license that she didn't have to be making that trip to MoneyGram three times a week. So I couldn't be more thankful for them and just the amount of effort they put into my Lacrosse is just tremendous and I'm very thankful.
Speaker 5:Yeah, like they said, I'm just super thankful because my parents didn't play lacrosse, so they don't really get it, I guess because you have to travel a ton during the summer to get like exposure and whatnot. But yeah, I'm just super, uh, super thankful.
Speaker 4:Shout out my mom and dad, yeah yeah, like all these guys said, I mean the support that they give us is just unimaginable and I just really like all the stuff they're doing for us they enjoy doing. It's not just like kind of a chore for them to like do that for us, like they love coming to watch our games, they love supporting us, and I think that really shows a lot. And without them, I mean I know I can really do as much as I do right now and I just want to say thanks, thanks mom, thanks dad well, very nice.
Speaker 1:So you guys have two games coming up this weekend. You have the woodlands and memorial. What are you doing to prepare for these games?
Speaker 2:uh, I'm super excited. Uh, we're gonna be facing the woodlands again and we played memorial, the first round of playoffs last year. So two playoff teams that we played just a lot of recovery over yesterday and today and will come in and debrief our game from Saturday and basically after after our practice today it's full on, like get ready for these two games. Uh, they're, they're pretty big games for us, considering they're inside of Texas and and our district, something like that. Uh and so, yeah, just lots of preparation. We know that they're both gonna be good teams, especially, I'm sure the woodlands is gonna want to beat us this time around, so we'll have to prepare hard we're very motivated after coming off a loss.
Speaker 3:You know we weren't happy after that loss, so we're very motivated with a back-to-back this weekend and both the teams are gonna be motivated. We ended both their seasons last year and we beat them both twice last year, so they're gonna want to beat us bad and we're gonna have to be ready for that.
Speaker 4:But I think we're very motivated after last week and we're gonna be ready to go yeah, like brian and hudson said, they're gonna be coming out swinging because we but we beat both of them last year, so we'll be ready to go and will be prepared, and because you know, yeah, we'll be, we'll be ready to go yeah, I think this week's gonna be really important to prepare for them and we're obviously familiar with them, like playing both of them twice last year, like they said, and I really think we just have to like dial in on this game and obviously db flash game, but move on, and because this is where kind of the texas games start to really matter and I just think they're gonna come for revenge, but we're not gonna let that happen so, as athletes, a lot of times you have to give up certain things, some fun stuff, just to make more time for your game.
Speaker 1:And I understand, with spring break coming up, you guys are not going to be going on the annual senior trip. You have a different commitment this year uh, yes, ma'am, we're going.
Speaker 2:So we did it last year. It's called hogan lax and it's in florida. It, I think it's in orlando, it's somewhere in florida, and we go out there for five days. Uh, a normal day usually consists of wake up at six am and, uh, get up, go to breakfast and you'll go to your first practice and you'll come back to the hotel grab something to eat and head back out there and for your second practice and come, come back for dinner and usually something fun, like a fun activity at night, and then this year we play, I think, four games. Right, four games. Uh, we're gonna, we're going down there again this year, and so it consists of a lot of practices and a few games and we play some of the top top teams in the country as well down there. So, uh, yeah, it's a super fun tournament and it brings our clothes, our team, super close. Last year I'd say we would not have gone, won the state championship, without going on that trip well, that's a very different experience than the kids at fall hamar gonna be having that.
Speaker 1:Surely there's some fun to be had on this trip to.
Speaker 3:I think it's definitely a huge grind, like you said, waking up every day at six am, but uh, I think it brings us close and we we just definitely learn a lot about each other. We have some funny stories of everyone. I give a shout out to former captain Quinn Gordon and Benson Owens, um, but uh, yeah, we have a lot of fun together and definitely some lifelong memories that we'll always remember yeah, I got a got a little funny story about the trip.
Speaker 4:Me and Hudson were roommates and, of course, like Hudson said, we have to wake up really early and forgot to set our alarms. One day I'd say we're maybe like a minute late to breakfast and our coaches looked at us and said nope, then he didn't let us eat breakfast that day and think that just showed the the kind of coaching style he has and he's a very hardcore coach, but we love him at the same time well, is there anything, any last words, that you have for the community as far as coming out to your games this year?
Speaker 5:yeah, just come out and support us, uh, every weekend and we all feed off that energy and it really helps us play better and, yeah, we really appreciate any support and the community coming together. So, yeah, come out, support.
Speaker 1:I agree, let's keep that momentum going and keep those stands filled and sit to see their schedule. Visit Highland Park lacrosse dot org guys. Thank you so much for being on the show. We really appreciate it.
Speaker 2:Go.
Speaker 1:Scots. That's been another episode of the Bubble Lounge. I'm Martha Jackson and we'll catch you next time.