Another State Championship For Andrew Koch?

SEATTLE- There’s no doubt that within the last few years, the O’Dea Fighting Irish Lacrosse program has been extremely successful with many members of the class of 2023 being a part of consecutive state championship seasons and just overall dominance. Senior Midfielder Andrew Koch already got one last spring and is looking to end his high school career on a high note with another state championship. Koch has been around the program for a while, I asked him what he loves about lacrosse at O’Dea and how it has helped him in his career,

Koch said, “I love the team dynamic, the games, and practices are a great time for us to forget about school and what's bothering us and just connect over one collective objective.”

Koch clearly loves both the team chemistry that the Irish lacrosse program has developed and that the team is determined to achieve its end goal: another state championship. The Irish have created a family within the lacrosse program, a unified group that has a competitive edge like no other team when on the field. For Koch, it seems as if lacrosse means a lot, I asked Koch about his background in Lacrosse prior to coming to O’Dea and joining the powerhouse program,

Koch said, “Lacrosse has had a big impact on my life. I have been playing since the 6th grade. it has taught me how to overcome adversity on and off the field. Also how to be a team player, you don't have to be the leading goal scorer to have an impact on the team.”

Koch is clearly a selfless player who has learned a lot from a game filled with highly intense moments that can make or break the game. Koch has learned how to deal with a thing that life brings constantly: adversity, it’s safe to say Koch has gotten important lessons out of lacrosse in the last 6 years. I asked Koch what he feels his role is as a senior on this 2023 Irish Lacrosse team is,

Koch said, “The role I play on the field is being a downhill dodger and an outside shooter. I am more of a facilitator as I will help move the ball around to draw a slide and keep it moving to the backside for another dodge.”

Koch seems to have established his role on the squad, he knows that it’s not all about scoring. Role players are important, and they might not get the recognition that they deserve despite players like Koch being just as important as the person scoring the goal. Facilitating and maintaining a good aggressive tempo while controlling the ball is important for the Irish to repeat as state champions. The Irish took a stunning loss to the Seattle Prep Panthers this year so I asked Koch what his thoughts were on them as an opponent and as a potential threat to dethrone the Irish as state champions,

Koch said, “It was a tough game against them this year that we definitely could’ve won, I’m excited for a potential rematch against Prep, I feel like we can beat them when it counts the most.”

Koch seems confident that he will get his second state championship ring and not let the Panthers interfere. Koch and the Irish finish regular season play with two games against Glacier Peak on 4/24 and Bellevue on 4/27.