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07/23/2020 12:00 AMCatherine Larrow recently graduated from Guilford High School, capping off a run that saw her enjoy a plethora of success with the girls’ lacrosse squad. Although she didn’t get to play her senior season due to COVID-19, Catherine accomplished many great things alongside her teammates at Guilford. Last year, Catherine helped the team claim its first outright conference title when Guilford won the SCC Tournament.
Catherine, an attacker, broke the Guilford’s girls’ lacrosse team’s single-season scoring record by netting 78 goals as a junior. She also dished out 34 assists and scooped up 25 ground balls on her way to earning All-SCC First Team and All-State Second Team honors for Head Coach Wendy Epke’s club, which finished the year with a record of 18-3.
Winning an SCC championship was a special moment for Catherine, who has been playing lacrosse since she was in middle school.
“I started playing in 6th grade, when Coach Epke got me to start playing after seeing me play goalie in one of my soccer games,” says Catherine. “I love the intensity of the game. It’s so exciting playing close games where the outcome is unknown, and pushing with your team to earn the win.”
Catherine made a huge leap on offense during the 2019 season. After scoring 55 goals as a sophomore, Catherine boosted that total by finding the back of the net 78 times in her junior campaign. Catherine credits her creativity on the field, something that she developed through her training, as a major reason for her success.
“I think improving my game isn’t always about long hours of playing lacrosse. While practice is obviously important, I have found playing other sports, watching sports, and overall being creative in how I train is most helpful,” Catherine says. “However, in terms of lacrosse, recently I have found breaking down parts of my position, for example footwork and shooting, and working on those over and over really helps when it comes to games.”
In addition to having coached Catherine in high school, Epke is now coaching Catherine with the Guilford Seahawks in the Dream League this summer. Catherine was named a captain for both of her teams. Coach Epke says that Catherine has a natural knack for scoring, even when the opposition goes out of its way to try and stop her.
“She’s quick, agile, competitive, and tenacious. Catherine finds the back of the net and can score goals with a variety of shooting styles,” says Epke. “She works hard at perfecting her craft at practice and on her own. She sets the bar high for herself and her teammates in training and at games.”
Catherine appreciates that she gets to work with a dedicated coach like Epke. Catherine says that she has an strong connection with Epke both on and off the field.
“Wendy is an amazing coach and a great supporter. She is tough when she should be and kind when its needed,” Catherine says. “We love to talk about lacrosse, but I can really talk to her about anything else. I truly value our relationship and everything that she has done for me, from getting me into the sport, to giving me amazing coaching, and, honestly, bringing me into her family.”
While she was disappointed that she didn’t get to play her final high school season, Catherine is having a good time playing lacrosse in the Dream League. The Seahawks are off to an excellent start, and Catherine’s goal-scoring skills have played a huge part in that early success. When the season ends, Catherine has plans to play Division I lacrosse at Niagara University in New York.
“I’m most looking forward to playing at a higher level and meeting new people,” says Catherine.