Vote for The State’s Midlands 2026 high school boys, girls lacrosse players of year
It’s time to vote for The State’s Midlands girls and boys lacrosse players of the year.
Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, May 28, and you can vote as many times as you like. The winner will be announced Friday, May 29 along with The State’s all-area lacrosse team.
The nominees are listed below. Please note that these polls are not scientific and are meant to be just for fun.
Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year
Payton Hart, River Bluff: Senior had 48 goals, 23 assists, 17 ground balls, 58 draw wins and 39 draw controls. Hart was first-team All-State, North-South All-Star and signed with Lander.
Piper Haskett, Mid-Carolina: The sophomore had 111 goals, four assists, 52 ground balls and 84 draw controls. Haskett was first-team All-State selection.
Bonnie Pope, Heathwood Hall: Junior goalie was SCISA Player of the Year in helping the Highlanders to their first state championship. Pope allowed 6.8 goals per game, had a 55%save percentage, including 68 in the final two quarters.
Everette Pope, Heathwood Hall: Sophomore midfielder had 73 goals, 11 assists, 33 ground balls, 95 draw controls in helping Highlanders to SCISA state championship. Pope was first-team All-SCISA selection.
Lilly Sundell, Lexington: Senior and Gardner-Webb signee scored 101 goals, 47 assists, 60 ground balls, 52 caused turnovers and 312 draw wins in 430 draw attempts. Sundell was Lower State player of the Year, first-team All-State midfield and first team All-State draw specialist. She was a North-South All-Star selection.
Louise Vipperman, A.C. Flora: Senior attack had 86 goals and 28 assists to go along with 49 ground balls. Vipperman was first team All-State attack and North-South All-Star selection.
Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year
Sawyer Headley, Lexington: Senior had 34 goals and 22 assists despite missing five games because of injury. Headley had 60 ground balls, 15 takeaways, was North-South All-Star selection, second team All-State and signed with Mars Hill.
Pope Johnson, A.C. Flora: Senior attack had 59 goals, 29 assists and 27 ground balls. Johnson was Upper State Player of the Year and first team All-State selection.
Jackson Register, River Bluff: Senior had 76 goals, 19 assists and 39 ground balls. Register was first-team All-State selection.
James Stevens, Chapin: Junior face-off had six goals, three assists, 211 ground balls and 308 face-off wins. Stevens was a first-team all-state selection.
Eddie Wright, Chapin: Senior attack had 72 goals, 26 assists, 42 ground balls and 21 takeaways. Wright was second team All-State, North-South All-Star selection and signed with Hampton Sydney College.
This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 8:43 AM.
