Lacrosse is not just a game to Carmel, Ind., High School sophomore Nick Kennedy; it is a way of living.

Kennedy has played lacrosse for three years, two during middle school and recently finished up his first year with the Carmel Greyhounds.

“I have been playing since junior high in seventh grade, and ever since then I have just been hooked on the game,” Kennedy said.

This past year was Kennedy’s first at the high school level for lacrosse. He came into the season thinking that he would do well because he had already had two years of experience at the game.

“My goal at the beginning of the season was to start for the junior varsity team,” Kennedy said. “I just wanted a chance to play as a freshman.”

Kennedy achieved his goal and exceeded it in many ways. He became a starting defender for the junior varsity team at the beginning of the season, and he impressed his coaches enough to earn a sideline spot with the varsity squad.

“I actually started for the first varsity game last year,” Kennedy said, “but that was only because a couple of kids were out of town and one had a sprained ankle.”

For the varsity team, Kennedy became a defensive midfielder. This means that he would sub onto the field to play defense and run off during the offensive possessions. Since lacrosse substitutions are like hockey, players just sub on the fly without any stopping of the clock.

“It is a very fast game," said Mary Kennedy, Nick's mother. "Nick would always be sprinting on and off of the field whenever it changed possession.”

Nick later became a starter for the varsity team after one player quit the team because of hardships with the coach. He was the only freshman on the team with a starting position for Carmel.

“I ended up playing every varsity and junior varsity game last year," Kennedy said. Since I was playing two different positions I was allowed to do that.”

Carmel’s regular season went well, by only losing three in-state games. They came into the final four, ranked No. 4 and lost to the No. 2 ranked Zionsville Eagles in overtime in the state final.

“It was the most heartbreaking event of my life to lose that game to Zionsville,” Kennedy said. “We were leading by one with 1:30 left in the game and then they scored to put the game into overtime. They then scored in sudden death overtime and I had to watch them storm the field in such joy and happiness.”

At the end of the year, Kennedy had received an honorable mention for the all-state team as a defensive midfielder, the only freshman in the state to receive the position.

“Because of that award, I got the chance to play in an all-star game in Wooster, Ohio,” Kennedy said. “We ended up getting our butts kicked 25-0 by the Ohio All-Star team, but it was a good experience.”

Kennedy’s season still was not over as he joined the Indiana Rising Star team in July. He has been practicing with that team throughout the summer and will soon compete in a tournament at Notre Dame in August.

“My goals for next year are to maintain my position on varsity, be named to the all-state team and to win the State for Carmel.” Kennedy said. “Oh, yeah, destroying Zionsville next year will be good too.”