McCallie Lacrosse
The McCallie lacrosse team dug deep from a 10-10 fourth-quarter tie and defeated Memphis University School 13-11 May 16 to win the school’s eighth State Championship and first since 2010.
Tyler Wilks, the game’s offensive MVP, netted two late crucial goals, the team’s final two in the fourth quarter, to put some distance between the Blue Tornado and the Owls, 13-10. MUS added a late goal but ran out of time, and McCallie’s celebration began.
“We got behind early in the game and scored three goals in a minute and a half and made a good comeback,” Wilks said. “They tied it up in the fourth quarter, but we won it by two. It was a great comeback. They were playing good defense at the end and shutting off the ball. But we managed to get two more. It’s awesome.”
The halftime score was 7-5, and each team managed six second-half goals. Wilks led McCallie’s offensive efforts with four goals and an assist. Zach Hutchko and Sam Viscomi collected three goals each, and Braiden Davis added two more.
Jeff Durden was named defensive player of the game. Goal keeper Tate Boyce was credited with 15 saves and played in the net the entire game. Zach Stephenson was 20-5 in faceoffs for McCallie which concludes the season at 19-2.
McCallie was well represented on the All-State team following the finals. First-team honorees included Wilks (attack), Hutchko (attack), Davis (midfield), Durden (defense), Boyce (goalie), Drew Lukacs (long stick midfield) and Stephenson (faceoff specialist). Defenseman Mick Upchurch was listed as second-team.
The Blue Tornado also had four Tennessee High School All-Americans: Boyce, Davis, Durden and Wilks.