For most athletes, international playing experience comes well after high school, if it comes at all. Not many return to their high school teams after competing in a world championship.
This spring, however, John Carroll's Ally Carey, Broadneck's Karri Ellen Johnson and Severn's Josie Owen are all back on their high school teams after helping the United States win its third straight International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations' Under-19 World Championship last August in Ontario, Canada.
Last spring, as high school juniors, all three garnered just about every accolade available -- All-Metro, All-America, All-Tewaaraton -- before joining the nation's other top young players and conquering the world.
Now most of their Under-19 teammates are playing in college, but they have a year to go before Carey heads off to Vanderbilt, Johnson to Maryland, and Owen to Virginia. In the meantime, each returns to a top 10 team. Going back to high school after reaching such a pinnacle can be a challenge.
"It's definitely a tough transition," Carey said. "In high school you play at a completely different level, and at times it can be frustrating because you expect so much after the summer. But coming back, I can teach people different things and now they're like, 'You really know what you're talking about.' "
Johnson agreed.
"In a way it is kind of frustrating," she said, "because you're used to a whole different level of play, but it's also kind of fun, because it's a new year and it's the last time we're going to be playing high school lacrosse. ... I don't want to take it for granted."
Wendy Kridel, U.S. Under-19 team coach for the past three world championships, also coaches Bryn Mawr, and she has watched several of the Mawrtians transition back to high school play.
"There's no question it's much easier for those going to college," Kridel said. "The one piece that is so hard, in my experience, is socially, because they've played at such a high level. They know the game in a different way than the rest of their teammates and now they have to balance wanting to help their teammates with not coming across as a know-it-all."
Severn coach Renie Sotiropolous said she sees Owen walking that line.
"It is hard for Josie, and it is a balance," Sotiropolous said. "I have my ear to the ground for that, but she's been friends with these girls forever, and I think they understand Josie."
All three girls return to similar situations with veteran teams and lots of girls they have played with for a long time. They don't boast, and none has met any resentment or jealousy. Instead, their teammates are eager to learn new things.
Still, Owen said her enthusiasm sometimes gets the better of her, so her teammates and Sotiropolous have to calm her down.
"Renie, she makes fun of me for it," said Owen, with a laugh. "I'll be like, 'We can do this play. It'll work. I swear. It's the best play ever.' But I'm so lucky to come back to a high school team that is awesome, so it's fun to take advantage of all I've learned and try to teach it to them. They are more open to it when they see that it works."
Playing with the best young players in the country against the best young players in the world has not only honed their skills but also boosted their confidence.
Owen said she struggled with that during training camp, calling her mother for moral support.
"I was always insecure and second-guessing myself, but I came to realize I was so lucky to have that opportunity and I learned a lot, " said Owen, who scored eight goals in the U.S.'s 18-4 opening-round win over England. "If I can practice against these amazing teammates and hold my own, and if I can play against Australia and England and can hold my own, I can do fine in high school."
All three girls said they might have tried to add a move or two they learned from one of their Under-19 teammates to their repertoire, but mostly, they sharpened their overall game. They learned about different styles and honed their game sense.
Each is hard-pressed to pinpoint exactly how her game is better, but each knows she has improved just from having the experience.
"The USA, the entire team is so competitive and at such a high level of lacrosse that you're going to get better no matter what," Carey said. "Even if you're not trying new things, everything is fast. The pace is much faster. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be ready for college when I get there."
katherine.dunn@baltsun.com
THE POLL
1. Mount Hebron
Last season -- 19-1, ranked No. 1
Outlook -- The view from the top has been pretty good for the storied Vikings, who are riding a streak of 11 straight state titles. Staying there will depend on whether a new crop of talented youngsters is ready to step up after the Vikings graduated 13 players, including half of their starters.
2. Severna Park
Last season -- 20-0, No. 2
Outlook -- The Falcons graduated eight from last season's state Class 4A-3A state championship team, but don't let that fool you. They remain skilled, experienced and deep.
3. John Carroll
Last season -- 14-3, No. 3
Outlook -- Repeating as Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference champions won't be easy, but the Patriots are favored to do it. Nine starters return.
4. McDonogh
Last season -- 18-2, No. 4
Outlook -- The Eagles lost a 10-9 heartbreaker to Severn in the IAAM A Conference semifinals, so they will be hungry to get to the title game for the first time. (They won the A2 Conference in 2005.)
5. Severn
Last season -- 14-8, No. 6
Outlook -- Another loaded team in the IAAM A Conference, the Admirals return all their starters and 22 of 24 players from a squad that lost the title game to John Carroll in overtime.
6. St. Mary's
Last season -- 11-11, No. 13
Outlook -- It took the young Saints a while to get on track last season, but they were a force down the stretch, falling to John Carroll, 9-8, in the IAAM A Conference semifinals.
7. Broadneck
Last season -- 14-3, No. 8
Outlook -- The Bruins have a veteran squad with more depth on offense than in recent years. Look for them to make a run at Severna Park in Anne Arundel County.
8. Bryn Mawr
Last season -- 14-3, No. 9
Outlook -- Only three starters return for the Mawrtians, but it shouldn't take them long to get up to speed in the A Conference with some talented replacements.
9. Glenelg
Last season -- 15-3, No. 11
Outlook -- The Gladiators have plugged the holes left by four graduated starters. There's plenty of experience, depth and scoring power to take another run at Mount Hebron.
10. Dulaney
Last season -- 15-3, No. 10
Outlook -- The Lions have plenty of young talent to fill the big holes left by seven graduates, and remain the team to beat in Baltimore County and the region.
11. Century
Last season -- 17-2, No. 5
Outlook -- After graduating eight starters, the Knights will retool with some players switching positions, but the tradition is there after three state titles in four years.
12. Towson
Last season -- 14-2, unranked
Outlook -- Don't underestimate the Generals despite losing some exceptional players. Fourteen returnees join a strong group up from the junior varsity county champions.
13. Westminster
Last season -- 13-3-1, unranked
Outlook -- With 11 seniors, a strong, veteran defense and a reloading offense, look for the Owls to be in the Carroll County race.
14. North Harford
Last season -- 17-2, No. 7
Outlook -- The Class 3A-2A state runners-up relied heavily on seniors last season, so the Hawks' success will be determined by how quickly the new starters grow into leaders.
15. Roland Park
Last season -- 10-8, No. 15
Outlook -- The Reds face a big challenge in playing every game on the road while their turf field is under construction, but their experience should keep them in the IAAM A Conference hunt. Others considered -- Annapolis (9-7, unranked), Catonsville (10-5, unranked), Centennial (9-5, unranked), Liberty (12-4, unranked), St. Paul's (11-8, No. 14), South River (11-3-1, unranked).
Other notables -- Cathy Bachur, Towson; Shannon Bone, North Harford; Hannah Bordner, Century; Ashley Bruns, Mount Hebron; Dana Cahill, Mercy; Cara Canington, C. Milton Wright; Ashley Cudmore, Bel Air; Monica Fischer, Fallston; Amy Gladfelter, Liberty; Kirsten Goldberg, St. Paul's; Brooke Griffin, South River; Liz Hamilton, Roland Park; Jen Hardesty, Westminster; Ana Heneberry, Dulaney; Liza Herzog, Friends; Jaci Gassoway, Severna Park; Blair King, Dulaney; Courtney Kirk, Roland Park; Erin Laschinger, Notre Dame Prep; Alayna Markwordt, Glenelg; Ali Mattingly, South River; Sarah Matz, Bryn Mawr; Brittany Miles, Western; Alex Napoli, River Hill; Carly Napora, McDonogh; Libby Nichols, Friends; Jessica Nonn, Catonsville; Brittany Pastrana, Annapolis; Kira Paterakis, McDonogh; Brooke Prater, C. Milton Wright; Alex Priddy, Severn; Hayley Rausch, Severna Park; Meg Schrum, St. Mary's; Sandra Syntax, Poly; Mary Teeters, Centennial; Chelsea Thompson, Broadneck; Amalie Trentzsch, Winters Mill; Monica Zabel, Mount Hebron; Jen Zoltoski, John Carroll.