LEWISTOWN, Pa. — Mifflin County is still relatively new when it comes to girls' lacrosse. The team began in 2018. Mara Gallo was one of the first team managers when she was in grade school.
"They just needed someone to take care of the stats and get everything set up at practice," recalled Gallo. "And Coach Lemont was like, 'Oh, you can come out to manage and see if you like it,' and I was like, 'Alright.'"
Coach Teresa Lemont knew Mara could go from team manager to team leader.
"I'd go home. I've been watching film, I'm watching college lacrosse, and then it kind of like helps me put it into perspective here at the high school level," said Gallo.
The Mifflin County junior is now one of the players that younger Huskies go to for guidance. In just a few short years, she's gone from holding a clipboard to boarding a flight to play the game in Spain, which was a surprise to her.
"My mom knew about it before I did. So, it was like this big secret hush-hush from me. The day before we came back from Christmas break, I got a text from her and she was like, 'Check your email when you get a chance.' So obviously I was like what? So, I checked it and she was like, 'Oh, you're going be playing in Spain and I was like, 'What?' and she was like, "Yeah. like no big deal.'"
Coach Lemont nominated the midfielder and she was picked to be one of 24 girls this summer to head to Spain.
"It really does drive me a lot because some people look over Mifflin County. It's incredible if you get recognized here because it doesn't happen a lot. So, I think it's really incredible that Mara did get recognized and she has this opportunity to go," said Mifflin County goalie Zoey Foltz.
April 16, 2024 …. A Great Day to be a Husky. #WeAreOneTeam
Posted by Mifflin County Athletics on Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Knowing this kind of success is possible is important to Foltz, who's walking a similar path, which also started as a team manager.
"I came to the first day of practice and Coach Lamont had told me about Mara reaching out to her and talking to her and finding out what I could do. Me and Mara have been working together for a while now. But Mara has really helped me grow in the sport and she just helps push me."
Zoey often makes trips to Spooky Nook to test herself against competition from all over the state, but whether it's in Lancaster County or Spain, these Huskies just want to help bring their teammates along, and ultimately their program.
"Keep putting in the effort because even if we do lose, it's effort that matters and showing that they're trying," claimed Foltz. "Putting in the amount of effort that they have been, it just shows."
"I kind of get to see it from a different perspective, almost because I'm trying to teach all the younger girls how to play," added Gallo. "So, it's like kind of the role of a coach on the field."