Madelyn Furstenau '26, Lyonlife.org Editor-in-Chief
It is finally 2024, and winter sports are in full swing. Several teams have found success on the court, slopes, and ice; this year, the hockey team is no exception. Surpassing a few struggling seasons, the South Lyon Unified Varsity Hockey team is cruising through their competition with a record of 12-3.
After three back-to-back LVC Champion titles from 2018-2020, the team fell into a slump when they were first-round exits in the 2021 playoffs—followed by a losing record of 8-14 in 2022. However, SLU has turned it around this year, and their hard work has not gone unnoticed.
SLU kicked off the season with a 6-3 win against Ann Arbor Huron, followed by a towering 11-3 victory against Lenawee United on meet-the-team night. Their winning streak continued until their fifth game where they lost a close battle against Lakeland with a final score of 4-3. Despite this loss, they bounced back with five straight wins after their first defeat.
This reign of achievement brought about considerable amounts of attention, and the State Champs Sports Network even talked about SLU: "Keep an eye on South Lyon…On the ice, I know that's where they want to get things going… I've heard nothing but good things." This kind of positive recognition and the possibility of championship contention has excited the students at South Lyon and South Lyon East High Schools who hope to see the team return to its victorious habits. Sophomore Bayleigh Mathews said, "I enjoy going to the hockey games because it is a very fun sport to watch. I love to go with my friends, and I never leave a hockey game disappointed."
Of course, every successful team has outstanding leadership from coaches and captains at its root. This year, SLU is led by captains Mason Mitchell and Gavin Mulcahy, with help from assistant captains Carter Temple, Connor Hayden, and Dominic Mackson. This group of seniors has worked tirelessly to restore confidence in the team and try to help SLU return to the championship this year.
There is nothing like taking pride in a hard-working group, and former team members of SLU are thrilled to see the team winning game after game. Mitchell Skamiera, a Division III hockey player at Grand Valley State University, was an SLU captain his senior year at SLHS in 2020-2021. During his time on the team, he broke the school record for points scored all-time. This year, he has kept up with the team's progress and is interested in seeing where they go. Skamiera said, "Back in my day, our team set the school's best record, but this year's team is off to an even hotter start. I hope the boys can set a new mark and take in all the great things the game has to offer. I wish them nothing but the best."
Participating in a school sport, especially when successful, is one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences a student-athlete can partake in. Skamiera recalled multiple positives from his time with SLU: "High school hockey helped create some of the longest-lasting memories. During my playing career with SLU, the team bond felt like a brotherhood, which helped form lifelong friendships." He added, "Hockey forces you to be at your best and has huge implications on your character."
Team sports offer once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to form valuable bonds and connections that will last forever. The 2023-2024 South Lyon Unified Varsity Hockey team, a group of driven athletes, has shown the community that with determination, dedication, and vast amounts of effort, any team can recover from hardship. South Lyon and South Lyon East hope that the team will continue to thrive and make their way back to a champion spot in 2024.
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