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How does it feel to earn a lacrosse scholarship to Ohio State? “It feels great and amazing after playing so long,” says Carmen Chona, a senior at Bel Air High School. She’s played lacrosse for seven years, played club lacrosse with NEMS since 8th grade, and trained with Ephraim Dorsey of Athelites for the last four years.

Carmen believes Athelites was important to her athletic progress. “It helped my footwork overall. I was fast before, but [Ephraim’s] drills sped me up.” She started with the girls’ sessions, but because of her skill level, she joined Athelites’ boys’ lacrosse training. “In the beginning, it was mentally harder. The boys were bigger, and…they knew I wasn’t as strong.” The boys encouraged her to push herself. “When I was with the girls, I was right there with them. With the boys, I’m not in the back, but I’m not in the front. It pushes me a lot more.”

Athelites’ drilling in agility skills improved Carmen’s playing ability more than any other thing she did. “I know it’s really tiring and killer at times, like the sprints that we do. It’s insane, and then you just want to fall over, but in the end, you know it helps,” says Carmen. “When you’re doing it, you’re like, ‘I’m never going to use this, but when you get out on the field, and you just ran the entire field, and then you’re jogging a little bit because you’re on defense or something and then you get a turnover so you have to run back after the ball. I don’t tire very easily anymore.”

The hard work improved how she feels about the game. “I’ve always loved the sport, but now that I’m getting better, I’m doing more things, my shots are better, and I’m moving past girls faster, it’s more fun,” says Carmen.

From Ephraim and others at Athelites, Carmen also learned leadership skills. “I was captain of the field hockey team, both as a sophomore and this year, and I hope to be captain this year of my lacrosse team. I think I’m a really good leader. I’m very outspoken of how a team member is.” As an example, she tells her teammates, “See how such-and-such a person does a move? Let’s all try to do this. I try to get the girls pumped up, and it’s kind of the same thing with Athelites. This year, we’re the oldest, and there are littler kids. I just want to encourage them.”

Carmen believes that stamina and agility training benefits all athletes. She encourages others, “If you can’t do [Athelites], do something.”

Written By Terri Pilcher

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