McCallie senior attacker Nick Jessen leads the team in goals (32) and assists (23) this season. The Blue Tornado have a bye until the TSLA Division I state semifinals as they are in search of the program's first state title since 2015.McCallie is just two wins away from its 11th Tennessee Scholastic Lacrosse Association state championship.
However, with the most recent of those titles coming in 2015 and the Blue Tornado having lost in the Division I final the past two seasons, standout senior defender Cameron Henry and his teammates don't want to let this season's success put them in the wrong frame of mind as they prepare for the state playoffs next month.
McCallie went 5-0 in region play this spring and clinched the No. 1 seed for state, giving the team a bye into the semifinals, but that is no guarantee of postseason achievement.
"We are going into the playoffs hungry and as humble as we possibly can," said Henry, an Under Armour All-American who has signed with three-time NCAA champion Duke. "When you play more confident than you should it can create issues. This year we have focused a lot more on playing as a team and struggling as a team."
McCallie (10-4) is undefeated against Tennessee opponents this season, with its four losses to programs that are powers in their respective states and beyond - USA Today named Indiana's Culver, which beat the Blue Tornado early this season, the boys lacrosse team of the year in 2017. The Blue Tornado's out-of-state opponents are a combined 94-26-1 in 2019.
Senior attacker Nick Jessen is one reason veteran coach Troy Kemp's team has put together another strong year. The left-handed scoring assassin has 70 goals and 34 assists in two seasons since transferring from Signal Mountain.
Jessen, who will move on to Lafayette College in Pennsylvania after high school, is one of six on this year's team who have signed to play at the next level. It's an accomplishment that adds to the reputation of a nationally renowned program that has had two former members go on to play professionally.
"If I see a teammate with the ball or pass it to them, I know they can do something special," Jessen said. "I am surrounded by great players. Practicing against Cameron every day has helped me a lot. We all have made each other better."
Jessen leads the team with 32 goals and 23 assists this season, and fellow senior Ian McCauley has 30 goals and 13 assists. Rutgers signee Ellison Burt-Murray has 20 goals and 23 ground balls.
Junior midfielder Sam Sawyer has helped generate possession with 91 ground balls this season, when he has won 73% or more of his face-offs in a game five times. On defense, Henry has helped protect goalie Zach Musia by collecting 108 ground balls this year, and Henry has 40 takeaways in three seasons.
McCallie has won six straight matches, a streak that started April 5 with an 11-8 road win against Memphis University School, which has won three straight TSLA titles. During their winning streak, the Blue Tornado have outscored opponents 96-31, with versatility a factor in the run.
"One of the things that makes our offense so dangerous is we can adapt to any defense we play," Jessen said. "We can change our games and sets for what comes at us. In practice we work on formations and team things because we do passing and shooting on our own time."
Adding motivation to McCallie's title quest is the impending departure of Kemp. As the Times Free Press reported this month, after 27 years at the school, he is leaving this summer for a job at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta.
"I really, really respect Coach Kemp," Henry said. "After all the hard work he's done, I think he deserves something special. The team is certainly willing to give that to him under any circumstance. Coach is one of our purposes for this year. It's an honor to be playing for him."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.