Senior girls lacrosse striker Kami Tarantino is finishing up playing her 11th year of lacrosse, having started her journey in the sport at just seven years old. Throughout her lacrosse career, she has demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and a deep love for the game.
Tarantino has served as an amazing two-year captain to the young, developing KO girls lacrosse team, providing guidance and inspiration to her teammates. Her leadership and unwavering commitment to the team have made her a role model everyone looks up to. As she wraps up her senior year and high school lacrosse career, Tarantino leaves behind a legacy of excellence, perseverance, and camaraderie that will continue to inspire the team for years to come.
Tarantino is full of strengths both on and off the field. When talking to Head Coach Judy Bailey about her, it was overwhelmingly clear that Tarantino is an incredibly hard worker. “What I always remember about Kami is how hard she works,” Coach Bailey said. “She always has a smile on her face, is always friendly to everyone, is always positive even when others are not, and she just does everything she can to uplift the team.” Tarantino consistently demonstrates her dedication to the sport, not just during games but in every practice, taking the time to improve her skills while helping her teammates enhance theirs. This dedication is reflected in her remarkable statistics, leading the team with over 40 goals in their 13 games and many assists as well. “I always try my best to leave it all out on the field,” Tarantino said. “I also try to bring my best, most positive energy and attitude to every game, no matter any predisposed expectations.”
Tarantino is planning to attend College of the Holy Cross next fall and hopes to continue to play lacrosse at the collegiate level. She is considering joining the club lacrosse team or attempting to walk onto the varsity team. “I hope next year, she’ll try out for the team at Holy Cross,” Coach Bailey said. “I’m encouraging her to do that because I truly believe she can make it.” Tarantino’s passion for lacrosse is evident in her dedication and the respect she has earned from both her teammates and coaches. Her future in the sport looks promising, whether she plays at the club or varsity level in college. “I love the sport because of the teamwork and strategy that goes into lax,” Tarantino said. “It takes a team to win a game, and that’s what makes it so special.”
Coach Bailey praised Tarantino as an exceptional teammate, noting that everyone on the team truly respects her and overwhelmingly voted for her to be one of the captains. She explained that players see Tarantino as supportive, kind, and friendly both on the field and around school. “She just brings everything she has every day,” Coach Bailey said. “She loves this sport. She works so hard. She enjoys it.”
Tarantino joined the team during her freshman spring with a strong skill set and has only gotten stronger since then. She excels at using both hands to catch, throw, and shoot. Her exceptional game sense allows her to know exactly when to cut, pull out, and look for feeds. She has a great shot and impressive fakes, enabling her to bypass defenders and outsmart goalies. Tarantino is also a vocal leader on the field, yet she remains humble, never flaunting her skills and always prioritizing the team.
The girl’s lacrosse team is forever grateful for everything Tarantino has done for the team, with her contributions being truly unimaginable. Her dedication and hard work have transformed the team on and off the field in countless ways. Tarantino’s impact is felt in every aspect of the team’s success, and her unwavering commitment to the sport has set a standard of excellence that inspires her teammates to push their limits and strive for greatness. The team will miss Tarantino dearly and wish her all the best at Holy Cross!
