Juan Diego lacrosse player in nationals

DRAPER — Markie Wright, a junior at Juan Diego Catholic High School, was selected to participate on the Utah/Idaho Girls U-17 National Lacrosse Team.

"It has been great to be part of the national team," said Wright, adding that participating in the team, besides being an honor, has taught her competition as well as being able to work as a member of a team.

The team was made up of the best high school girls’ lacrosse players in the two states. They traveled to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Penn., May 25-26 to play in the U.S. Lacrosse Women’s National Tournament, winning three games and losing two.

Wright enjoyed every minute of it, she said. "I met a lot of different people, and learned how to work as a team and how to have good communication."

Her father, Paul Wright, said he is very proud of her achievements.

"I have seen her develop and grow. She has been very shy but now she wants to be a team leader; she has gained a lot of self-confidence on the field and off the field," he said.

Lacrosse is not only about winning and losing, it is more that "you get to deal with other teammates and she [Markie] is learning to deal with parents, with coaches; she is really growing," said Paul Wright.

Markie Wright played soccer before switching to lacrosse because she felt she was better at that sport, she said; she has been a member of the national team for the last two years.

Currently a varsity starter on the Soaring Eagle team, she played all positions last season. Juan Diego lacrosse coach Megan Goodhand said Wright works hard in practice and even harder during games.

"I am just proud of the way she has been carrying herself," Paul Wright said. "A parent can’t always be there. She is learning how to get along with different people in different areas and going to Juan Diego has helped her grow overall."

Parents should always consider supporting their children in whatever they are interested in, he said. "You want to support them and help them as much as you can. That’s what we are trying to do."

Looking ahead to graduation, Markie Wright said she wants to go to college, although she hasn’t decided where, but she does want to continue playing sports.

Participating in sports "is important because it teaches you a lot of life skills: how to work with people, how to talk with people, how to handle pressure; there are a lot of things in sports that apply to real life," she said.