The whistle blows and the atmosphere becomes tense as the opposing team pushes a 
fast-break; Zoie Reynolds ’26 is faced by two attackers, barreling toward her. Springing 
into action, she closes the angle with a perfectly timed slide. Before the lead attacker 
can even look at the cage, Reynolds executes a clean body check, dislodging the ball.
Reynolds started playing lacrosse in third grade after being introduced to the sport 
by her older sister, Skai Reynolds ’21.

“I was playing basketball, then I realized it really wasn’t the sport for me, and my 
older sister played lacrosse,” said Reynolds.
Although she began as an offensive player, she found a better way to help her team 
as she progressed in her career.

“At first, I liked [scoring] goals,” said Reynolds. “Then, I switched to defense, and 
[it] connected with me in a way 
because I just didn’t really like 
scoring that much. I really liked 
helping my other teammates.”

Serving as a captain of the team 
for her second year, Reynolds’ ability 
to connect with her teammates is 
critical and being able to see the 
game more clearly as a defender 
helps her understand how to help 
them to the best of her ability.

“[My focus is] guiding the team 
in games, always lifting up our 
teammates ... and just saying, ‘I’m 
here for you, everybody’s here for 
you,’” said Reynolds.

Reynolds’s leadership has been 
noticed by teammates, who have felt supported by her; midfielder Leah Bornstein 
’26 emphasizes the energy she brings to the team.

“She’s a great person on and off the field,” said Bornstein. “She’s always picking 
everyone up if they’re feeling down, and ... she just brings love, enthusiasm, and 
leadership toward you.”

Similarly, Charles Gallagher, one of Reynolds’s coaches, not only acknowledges 
her ability to dictate play in the backline, highlighting her strong ability to organize 
the team, but also emphasizes Reynolds’s dedication to the team.

“She communicates really well with the senior class ... and the underclassmen 
when it comes to defense,” said Gallagher. “She’s a great motivator, and she’s a total 
team player. [Reynolds] is not concerned about the accolades — she just wants to 
go out there and play.”

Outside of her leadership, Reynolds has established herself as an instrumental 
part of the team’s success; despite not receiving the most headlines for her defensive 
work, her teammates and coaches still recognize 
her effort.

“[The coaches] like to put her on the best 
offensive player from the other team because she’s 
that talented,” said Gallagher. “She can control 
those players and limit what they can do as an 
explosive offensive player, so ... the day before a 
game, we tell [Reynolds]: ‘Hey, Zoie, listen, you’re 
going to need to lock down the best player.’ And 
when that best player doesn’t have a great game, 
everybody knows why.”

Furthermore, Bornstein echoes this sentiment 
while also pointing out that Reynolds’s work ethic 
further establishes her on the field.

“She’s a really hard worker, and she doesn’t get 
recognized enough for it,” said Bornstein.
In her final season, Reynolds still has plans 
to improve the team. Specifically, she aims to 
improve camaraderie off the field to produce 
stronger performances during games.

“[I am working on] creating more team bonding 
for the team because when I was a freshman 
or sophomore, [the team] didn’t have a lot of 
bonding,” said Reynolds.

Although she may currently be a focal point of the team at PHS, Reynolds intends 
to continue her lacrosse career at the D1 level at Boston University. In fact, she has 
already began to plan her college education around the sport.

“I already know what I’m going to do, like leaving class early, balancing classes, and 
also connecting [lacrosse] back to how it would help me in my future,” said Reynolds.

After witnessing her development over the last four years, Gallagher is optimistic 
for her future and has high expectations for career at BU.

“In all honesty, she’s going to go down as probably one of the best defenders we’ve 
had at PHS lacrosse in a very, very long time,” said Gallagher. “Anybody that can go 
and play that sport in college at the D1 level is a really exceptional player, and she 
definitely is one of those player


Zoie Reynolds ’26: lacrosse

Jada Speed ’26 steps up to the batter’s box and silence falls across the field. Digging 
her cleats into the ground, she swings her bat and a loud ringing of her metal bat can 
be heard across the field. 

Speed has been playing softball for over 10 years. Originally a cheerleader, she 
switched to softball and became consumed by it, following in her older sister’s 
footsteps, eventually evolving into an impactful player on the softball team.

“I started off doing cheer because of my older sister. We all did cheer, but then I 
ended up quitting to play softball because my older sister played softball. I kind of 
just followed in her footsteps with playing softball,” said Speed.

Over the years, softball has 
become much more than a 
competition, rather a way to 
build relationships and learn 
for Speed. The relationships 
she has formed with her 
teammates have been one of 
the most meaningful parts of 
the sport.

“We always love hanging out 
with each other outside of the 
sport,” said Speed. “ I feel like 
just having that kind of tightknit group always helps us have 
fun on the field.”

Speed joined the Princeton 
High School softball team in 
her freshman year. Initially, she 
split her time between JV and 
Varsity. Later on, her unique 
abilities quickly stood out, earning her a full-time spot on the varsity team. Since 
then, she has found success, having a high .275 batting average overall and hitting 
.362 last year, the second highest on the team. 

Marrissa Soprano, head coach of the softball team, spoke highly of Speed’s 
performance. Soprano was very quick to point out her offensive abilities, which 
have helped to establish her as a key member of the lineup.

“Jada plays travel softball, so that really helps. When she first came in, she was 
a strong player already, which was great,” said Soprano. “Her strength has always 
been hitting, so we were very excited for her to join the program and be a very solid 
hitter for us in the lineup.” 

One of Speed’s strengths is her ability to deliver at the plate. As a strong hitter, she 
has hit multiple home runs for the team in the past seasons, providing some of the 
most exhilarating moments for her team, herself, and her coaches. 

“She’s hit some home runs for 
us, and that is always very exciting 
when she’s able to hit over the fence,” 
said Soprano.

Throughout her four years 
of playing for PHS, Speed has 
continued to improve as a player, 
a teammate, and a leader. As a 
senior, she is now part of a group 
of experienced players who help 
guide the younger players and set 
expectations for the team.

“She is part of a big group of girls 
that have played off for years, so it’s 
been fun to see them all get better at 
their skills,” said Soprano. “Also to be 
good examples for underclassmen, 
and showing them what to do, like 
conducting themselves on the team.”

Teammates have also highlighted 
her leadership skills as one of her strengths. 

“Jada brings a lot of laughs to the team. She is a force to be reckoned with. So she 
brings a lot of fun, fun energy, just because people are motivated by her,” said Simryn 
Patel ’26, who has played with Jada since their freshman year.

While Speed’s presence on the PHS softball team definitely left a mark, her final 
season is colored by a complex blend of emotions. While she is ready to continue 
playing softball into her fourth season of high school, it will be bittersweet leaving 
behind the group that has shaped her as a player.

“Oh, definitely really sad because it’s my senior season, so I’m leaving the best 
group of girls behind,” said Speed.

Looking ahead, Speed hopes to continue playing softball after graduating high 
school.

“I definitely see myself trying to play in college,” said Speed.

Cole Grainger's Work