As a coach, you hope your players grow into leaders. Every once in a while, you get the privilege of coaching someone who becomes so much more than that.

That's what Reese Walker has been for our Meredith Lacrosse program.

On Wednesday, March 25, when we take the field against North Carolina Wesleyan, we're not just playing a game. We're playing for something bigger. At Reese's initiative, this game will be dedicated to Childhood Cancer Awareness—a cause that is deeply personal to her and now meaningful to our entire team.

Before I talk about Reese's story, it's important to understand just how special she is on the field.

Reese has rewritten the record books at Meredith. She holds the school records for points and assists in both a single season and a career. She has also set USA South conference records in those same categories. She has earned major awards every year at Meredith including: Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year (2X), Tournament MVP, All Region Attack, and the Avenging Angels Athlete of the Year. Last season, she led the nation in assists and led her team back to the NCAA tournament for the third year of her career.  And she accomplished all of this, before her senior year.

But if you ask Reese, none of those accolades define her.  Her greatest accomplishment is simple: she gets to play.

Years ago, doctors told Reese she would never play a contact sport again due to the extensive radiation and chemotherapy her body and bones endured. And yet here she is—not just playing, but leading, excelling, and inspiring.

That perspective changes everything.

Reese's journey began long before Meredith. At just 13 years old, she was diagnosed with Stage IV Ewing Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. In the middle of fear and uncertainty, she asked a question that still defines who she is today:

"When can I play lacrosse again?"

What followed was a battle most people will never fully understand.

Fourteen rounds of chemotherapy. Six weeks of radiation. Eighteen months of fighting. There were setbacks—additional spots discovered, more treatments, more uncertainty. Days when even getting out of bed felt impossible.

But Reese refused to stay there.

"During it, you couldn't really stay negative," she said. "You had to think that one day you'll be past it."

Even in the hardest moments, she held onto one thing: the game.  "If I didn't think about what was ahead, I wouldn't have anything to look forward to," she said.

And that's why this game of lacrosse matters so much to her.  "It's my safe spot," she said. "When I'm playing, I'm not worried about anything else."

That mindset, that belief in something beyond the moment, is what carried her through and continues to define the way she plays and leads today.

During her treatment, while she was in the hospital; the Duke Women's Lacrosse team would visit her. They didn't just show up, they gave her something to hold onto.

Reese shared:

"The support I received from Coach Kimel and the Duke Lacrosse Team meant more than I can put into words. Their encouragement, presence, and belief in me helped carry me through some of the toughest moments and I will always be grateful for that."

                       
                       Reese with Duke lacrosse players

That connection and those moments are part of why this game matters so much. Because Reese never forgot what it felt like to be the one needing hope.

Recently, Reese came across Carter McArthur's story on social media - a young boy fighting the same battle, Ewing Sarcoma. Without hesitation, Reese reached out to his mother to learn more about Carter and how she could support his fight.

This game is about Carter. It's about Reese. It's about every family, every friend, and every person who has been impacted by childhood cancer. It's about honoring those still fighting and those who have fought before them.

It's also about perspective.

For our team, this game is a reminder that what we do is bigger than wins and losses. It's about using our platform to bring people together, to raise awareness, and to stand for something meaningful.

Reese's story has come full circle.

She was once the young girl in a hospital room searching for something to believe in. Now, she's the one giving that belief to someone else and that's what makes this moment so powerful. I couldn't be more proud to have Reese Walker on my team.

On March 25, we will compete. We will represent Meredith. But most importantly, we will play with purpose. Because sometimes, the game isn't just a game. Sometimes, it's hope.


Lauren Scott
Head Coach, Meredith Women's Lacrosse
 

During the game, we will be accepting donations to support Carter and his journey. Where Reese once searched for something to hold onto, Carter is doing the same. For Reese, it was lacrosse. For Carter, it's fishing. All contributions will go toward items from his online wishlist to help bring moments of joy and normalcy during his treatment.

For those who would like to donate, contributions can be made in person on Wednesday or through the Meredith Women's Lacrosse Venmo.

Meredith Lacrosse Lauren-Scott-50