85 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com LUCY BECKHAM BOYS LACROSSE The Lucy Beckham boys lacrosse team will have to find a way to surpass last season, one which saw the Bengals pull the last leg of the ‘Rock Hill sweep,’ in which both the boys and girls teams beat Fort Mill to win 5A state titles. Unlike their sister team, however, the Bengals not only came in as playoff favorites, but plowed through four opponents, outscoring the competition 71-7 to notch their fourth consecutive state title. Now after putting together “the toughest schedule we have ever played,” second-year head coach Jason Jeffries is putting all his confidence in the team’s 14 seniors to return them to the promised land. “Our 2026 schedule is a gauntlet – we will be playing teams from Georgia, North Carolina, D.C., Virginia and Florida,” Jeffries said. “Our leadership for 2026 will determine just how far this team goes.” Junior goalie Luke Fredericks is again expected to be crucial to that journey. Anchoring last year’s defense, he posted 177 saves and proved a shot-stopping machine in the playoffs, pitching a shutout against one opponent and holding two others to only a single goal. “He makes saves that not a lot of goalies can make and always plays his best in moments that mean the most,” Jeffries said. Which means come May, Fredericks intends to be back for title run number five. “Winning four state championships in a row definitely means expectations are higher,” he said. “But we embrace this responsibility and understand that every team will give us their best.” LUCY BECKHAM GIRLS LACROSSE Of all the Lowcountry’s defending state champions, Lucy Beckham girls lacrosse is perhaps wearing the largest bull’s-eye. Because, similar to the 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers, the Lady Bengals came out of nowhere at the end of last season, suddenly becoming unbeatable in route to winning their first 5A championship. Now fourthyear head coach Vanessa Southworth and a team led by senior Iliana Kane are in the position of knowing they can’t pull that same surprise again. “Last year’s championship set a high standard,” Southworth said. “But this group understands that nothing is given and everything has to be earned again.” Getting another chance, however, will mean playing again as if they have never won anything. Kane is not only at the center of this storm, but Southworth also expects her to “give the team confidence and elevate the level of play for everyone.” “Iliana is a driving force in our program,” Southworth said. “Her talent speaks for itself, but what sets her apart is her leadership, work ethic and competitive mindset … holding the team to a high standard while reminding us that success is a team effort.” So while 2025 is still fresh in her mind, Kane is ready to show that last year wasn’t just a one-off. “Coming back as defending champions means we have something to prove every single day,” Kane said. “So I stay motivated by focusing on the little things like getting better in practice, pushing my teammates and making sure we don’t get comfortable.” PHILIP SIMMONS BASEBALL Ever since the last inning of last season, the Philip Simmons baseball team has been defined by two words: unfinished business. The Iron Horses came within six outs of winning it all, only to watch Batesburg-Leesville mount a late rally and win the last two games of a best-of-three series to win the AA state title, their first since 1949. Now, the Iron Horses’ ninth-year head coach Josh Kubisz and junior second baseman Blake Johnson are aiming to turn last year’s tough break into spring gold. “Last year, we got hot at the right time, and our pitchers were on for the month of May,” Kubisz said. “We have the talent to make another run this year; we just need to see if we can execute at the right time in the big games.” our sports Playing like a wall with arms, Lucy Beckham lacrosse goalie Luke Fredericks is flexing for another state title run. Eying a repeat, Iliana Kane pushed Lucy Beckham girls lacrosse to their first state title in 2025.
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