Approaching mid-season, senior Ryder Hamilton continues to shoot for the stars as his Bellefonte High lacrosse career comes to an end.

Being a key offensive player, Ryder has elevated the team in confidence, leadership, and goals. He has played a major role in the numbers on the varsity scoreboard, slowly but surely leading the team from a 5-2 record to the district championships. 

After playing lacrosse for nine years, Ryder had assisted the team in achieving some of their biggest milestones yet. Some of the program’s most recent successes were their second win against Danville High School, and their first wins against Wyoming Seminary and Lewisburg. Though it’s his last year as a Raider, Ryder plans to take his academic and athletic careers to North Greenville University where he will study business and pursue lacrosse at the D2 level.

“I started playing lacrosse because I got bored of baseball as it was too slow of a pace for me.  I looked for another sport and as soon as I found lacrosse I knew it was the sport for me,” Ryder said.

Not only is Ryder a role model on the field, but off the field he exemplifies leadership, hard work, and passion. His teammates look up to him and his coaches admire his selfless spirit, as he always strives to bring the team together.

“Lacrosse has taught me many life lessons. But the last four years have highlighted the importance in team culture and the bond a team can form as a key aspect to a team’s performance,” Ryder said.

During his final few games in red, Ryder plans to end his high school career with one last project. Being a midfielder, Ryder has been a key player in the success and development of boys lacrosse, since it started just a few years ago as a club.

“What I hope to achieve in my lacrosse career at Bellefonte is to contribute to the team winning the first district championship. I hope my legacy of hard work, pushing myself and being a good teammate on and off the field will be an example for future classes,” Ryder said. 

As his lacrosse career progresses Ryder will take his talent to Tigerville, South Carolina knowing he has a sea of red and white behind him. We expect Ryder to achieve greatness, knowing that it all started with a lacrosse stick and a town that supports him endlessly.