Back in 2015, when Hutchinson High School added varsity girls lacrosse to its spring sports offerings, it’s safe to say the expectations weren’t high.
It’s a relatively new sport in the area, and Minnesota in general isn’t considered a hot spot for lacrosse.
But after three years of competition and two conference championships, the Tigers have made a name for themselves among outstate teams, and even within the metro area.
While the Tigers’ accomplishments belong to everyone on the team, nobody deserves more credit than Hutchinson’s leader for the past three years — Lex Seifert.
Seifert got in on the ground floor of the lacrosse program, before there was even a girls team to join.
She started playing in sixth grade with the boys at New Century Academy. She played with them until her eighth-grade year, when a girls team was started at NCA.
Her freshman year she joined the junior varsity club team through the Hutchinson Lacrosse Association, and finally, her sophomore year, varsity lacrosse came to HHS.
“At first, hockey was my true passion. Once I started playing lacrosse, I was like, ‘Alright, I like this. This is now becoming my passion and hockey is becoming more of a hobby,’” Seifert said. “It was something different. Not many people were playing it and I like learning new things. I learned it, and it was pretty fun. I wanted to keep playing it.”
Every year since the team’s inaugural season, Seifert has led the Tigers in all offensive statistical categories. She has literally written the record books, and after this spring, her final and best year as a Tiger, she is the school record holder in career goals (175), assists (53) and total points (228).
“I take a lot of pride,” she said about her lacrosse career. “I’m part of history, and now everyone else coming through the program will look up to us.”
But how long will those records stand?
As impressive as her career has been, she was at a disadvantage. Compared to future players, Lex only got three years of varsity play.
In fact, she already has one serious challenger for her school records, her little sister, Madison Seifert.
Like Lex, Madison said she enjoys lacrosse because it is something different. She also admits that watching her big sis’ play over the years was another reason she was drawn to the sport.
“I went to almost every single one of her games,” Madison said.
Unlike her sister, Madison is usually one of the smallest players on the field. But she hasn’t let that slow her down one bit.
“It doesn’t really bother me that much,” she said. “I just keep playing my game, going out there, playing my best and scoring.”
Madison will only be a freshman next spring and already has two years of varsity under her belt. She’s also off to a pretty good start, too, with 74 goals, 31 assists and 120 points in her young career.
She is definitely gunning for Lex’s records, and that’s OK with her big sister.
“Yeah, sometimes I think about it when I’m on the field,” Madison said. “I want to get some of those records for the school.”
“It’s exciting to watch her follow in my footsteps,” Lex said. “Trying to reach the goals I’ve set for her, and achieve them, because I know she can.”
Lex also set a new goal for Madison this year when she was one of seven finalists in the state selected for Ms. Lacrosse Minnesota. The banquet was this past weekend, and although she did not win, just being selected was a major honor.
“I was shocked,” Lex said. “I got the call, and when she told me I couldn’t believe it. I never thought I would be a finalist. I come from the small town of Hutchinson, and lacrosse isn’t big out here.”
Although they’ll be parting ways soon, the sisters got one more opportunity to play together this past Tuesday when both participated in the state’s all-star game at Benilde-St. Margaret’s.
Next year, Lex will take her lacrosse skills to another fledgling program when she joins the Concordia University Golden Bears team, which just had its inaugural season this spring.
You can bet Madison will be watching some of those college games, while also carrying on her sister’s legacy with the Tigers.
“A lot of girls look up to her,” Madison said. “She keeps motivating me to do my best.”
