JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Brooke McCoy went to work and never looked back.
When McCoy first began playing lacrosse, she was blending it with other sports. But once she started taking it seriously, McCoy took off and so did Episcopal. Now, the Varsity 4 All-News4JAX girls lacrosse player of the year is the headliner of the area’s best team, and she’s only getting better.
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McCoy scored 43 goals and had a career-best 25 assists in her junior season as Episcopal reached the Class 1A state semifinals for the second consecutive year. The midfielder has 150 career goals and has already committed to Duke. But the journey is far from over. In some ways, it’s just getting started for McCoy.
“I didn’t really fully like commit to lacrosse until seventh grade when I moved up to Jacksonville during COVID and I started at Episcopal,” she said. “So, that’s kind of when I first like really started, got into club, worked with my [Episcopal] coach Krista Crittenden and just kind of fully committed to lacrosse.”
In the time that McCoy started at Episcopal, the Eagles have gone from losing badly to Ponte Vedra in the district championship in 2021 to reaching the state semifinals in three of the next four seasons. Episcopal went to the final four in 2022, ’24 and ’25.
This year, the Eagles became the area’s unquestioned best team, going 8-0 against local schools and sweeping powers Bartram Trail and Ponte Vedra for the first time in program history.
McCoy said Episcopal has always worked hard to be the best, but it actually came to fruition this season.
“What our coach said to us this year was pressure was a privilege, and I think it was nice to be the hunted because we knew that we like had this spot and it was a privilege to have that,” McCoy said. “The mentality instead of trying to get there to maintain was like a little bit of a shift for our program. But I think it was nice to know that we got here for a reason, we worked hard in years past. So, let’s honor that and let’s keep working hard so we can keep the position that we’re in.”
McCoy first picked up a lacrosse stick when she was in elementary school in Jupiter and then added cross country and track as sports when she moved to Jacksonville. Cross country helped McCoy with conditioning and endurance for the spring season and lacrosse. She scored eight goals in her first full varsity season as an eighth grader and said it was then that she knew it was a sport that she could excel in.
McCoy has done just that, and the journey isn’t over yet.
“Going into my career, I always put Duke [as] my dream school, but I didn’t actually think that it could be like attainable,” she said. “But then once I started doing these summer tournaments and kind of seeing where I was at with all the other girls, I was like, ‘OK, I can do this.’ I know I can do this. I just need to put in the work.”
Varsity 4 All-News4JAX girls lacrosse team
Player, school, Class
Ava Allamon, Bartram Trail, Sr.
Midfielder was second on the Bears in scoring (54 goals, 15 assists). Scored 116 goals in her career and helped with state championships in 2023 and ’24.
Emily Barnette, Bartram Trail, Sr.
Two-time All-News4JAX first-team selection midfielder had the best season of her career. Led Bears in scoring (80 goals, 16 assists). Finished career with 181 goals and 56 assists for area’s most successful program. Headed to Florida State University.
Esa Brenneman, Bartram Trail, So.
Two-time All-News4JAX first-team selection is a star at mid or on the attack. Scored 40 goals and assisted on 23. Has 94 goals in two seasons and positioned to be the next big name for the Bears.
Brooke Birkett, St. Augustine, Sr.
High-scoring mid Led Yellow Jackets in scoring with 69 goals, 25 assists. Scored 157 career goals with 51 assists. Had 51 ground balls, 114 draw controls for 12-8 Yellow Jackets.
Ashley Cotter, Tocoi Creek, Jr.
Three-time All-News4JAX first-team selection remains an electric offensive player at attack. Had 65 goals and 19 assists to send her career numbers even higher (229 goals, 71 assists). Had 60 ground balls. Has committed to Stanford.
Payten Cree, Episcopal, So.
Attack and midfielder has been playing varsity since seventh grade and posted her best season. Scored 45 goals with 26 assists and added 20 draw controls and 26 ground balls. Has scored 127 goals (60 assists) in high school.
Anna Giordano, Bolles, Jr.
Midfielder led the Bulldogs with 56 goals and tacked on 15 assists. Committed to University of Oregon. Started on varsity in eighth grade and has scored 249 goals in four seasons and Bolles in all four years.
Chloe King, Tocoi Creek, So.
Goalie stopped more than 43% of the shots she saw. Made 133 saves for the 9-9 Toros. Mentioned by more coaches than any other area keeper.
Brooke McCoy, Episcopal, Jr.
Midfielder is area’s top player is a three-time All-News4JAX first-team selection. Led Eagles to final four in back-to-back seasons. Scored 43 goals and added 24 assists. Had 114 draw controls, 57 ground balls and caused 34 turnovers. Has 150 goals, 60 assists in her career. Has committed to Duke.
Maeve O’Neil, Episcopal, Sr.
Finished a sterling career as a three-time All-News4JAX first-team selection. Attack star had career-high 64 goals, 24 assists in her final season that ended in the state semifinals. Scored 247 goals and assisted on 77 others in her career. Signed with George Washington University.
Grace Raymond, Ponte Vedra, So.
Scored 27 goals and added 11 assists as a scorer. In the field, she was solid forcing 65 ground balls and 11 turnovers. Had 57 draw controls.
Aubrey Schmidt, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Two-time All-News4JAX selection, she’s a versatile defender or midfielder. Scored 31 times and had 128 draw controls and 30 ground balls. Headed to Embry-Riddle for college. Versatile player who scored far more than a defender normally would, but could also lock teams down when the Sharks needed her to.
Lamb Toole, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Three-time All-News4JAX first-team selection attacker. Led Sharks with 36 goals and added 28 assists. Had 27 ground balls and forced 13 turnovers. Headed to Florida State. Scored 109 career goals with 137 assists.
Georgia Tuttle, Episcopal, So.
Two-time All-News4JAX selection is star at defender. Had career-highs in goals (19) and assists (14). Added 42 draw controls and 28 ground balls for area’s best team.
Honorable mention
Player, school, class
Ashley Albert, Ponte Vedra, Sr.
Isla Avant, Mandarin, Sr.
Reya Berkman, Bartram Trail, Jr.
Olivia Bittencourt, Creekside, Sr.
Olivia Bucca, Creekside, Sr.
Kaylee Clarkson, Ponte Vedra, Fr.
Kannon Cowgill, Fletcher, So.
Riley Cronin, Tocoi Creek, Sr.
Delaney (DJ) Feder, Fleming Island, So.
Esther Fernandes, Fleming Island, Sr.
Meredith Giebieg, Fleming Island, So.
Taylor Harris, Creekside, Jr.
Ella Hill, Tocoi Creek, Jr.
Riley Howington, Menendez, So.
Emme Hnath, Episcopal, Sr.
Avabelle Hubbard, Fletcher, Jr.
Skylar Kleinschek, St. Augustine, Sr.
Kaitlyn Lease, Bartram Trail, So.
Leila LeDoux, Menendez, Jr.
Daphne Packer, Tocoi Creek, Fr.
Reece Peterson, St. Augustine, Sr.
Cadence Presnick, Fletcher, Fr.
Lilliana Rivera, Creekside, Jr.
Taylor Salerno, Fletcher, So.
Corrina Saymiknha, Mandarin, Jr.
Shira Silverman, Tocoi Creek, Sr.
Eve Surface, Bolles, Sr.
Haley Van Camp, Bartram Trail, Sr.
Isabella Vitulli, Episcopal, Sr.
Anaisa Wagoner, Bartram Trail, Sr.
Meghan Wohlgemuth, Bolles, Sr.
