After having played basketball for most of her elementary years, Orange Lutheran senior Abby Walehwa decided to pursue a different sport in high school. A friend introduced her to lacrosse, and she has been playing since the 7^th grade. Lacrosse has experienced exponential growth across the U.S. in recent years, and Walehwa has enjoyed being part of an emerging sport.
 
"I love that it's super niche," says Walehwa of lacrosse. "It's growing in Southern California, but it's not super big, so when you find someone who also likes lacrosse, it's a really quick, tight-knit connection."
 
Walehwa plays attack for the Lancers, and as a captain, she has focused this season on remaining positive and leading by example in representing her faith on and off the field. As the varsity team prepares for the postseason, exemplifying Jesus to both her teammates and opponents remains her priority.

"Abby has been a leader for the girls lacrosse program for the past four years," says OLu girls lacrosse head coach Allie Kyte. "She is an extremely hard worker on the field, in the classroom and in numerous leadership positions on campus. I can always rely on her to get the job done. I am so proud of her work these past four years and excited to see what she does with her future. We will miss her dearly."

Walehwa has battled a number of frustrating injuries during her years playing lacrosse, but she credits persistence along with the support of her teammates for helping her push through.

"Encouragement and positivity can really shift the tide of where things are going," says the three-year varsity player. "If you bring in a positive attitude to things, it can really shift someone's day and it leads to a chain reaction, especially when you're working as a team."

Away from the lacrosse field, Walehwa serves the OLu community in a number of roles, including editor of photography for the school's yearbook and on ASB as co-president of Rooted, a program that allows students to celebrate, explore and share in the many cultural identities that are represented on campus.

"I just love Rooted," says the 17-year old. "Anyone's welcome, and it's such a connecting place where I get to meet people from all different walks and different cultures and be able to grow and educate myself and encourage other people to educate themselves…It's grown from a club to being a program where we collaborate with other schools and host events and have Daily Gatherings. It's really awesome to watch it grow."

As Walehwa heads to college in the fall, she will study education and plans to become a teacher. Her parents, along with her OLu lacrosse coaches, have made an indelible impact on all aspects of her life.

"My mom is just the sweetest soul in the entire world, and she really inspires me to always have a smile on my face," says Walehwa. "And my dad as well. He's in law enforcement, and he's super disciplined and he has great morals. So I really look up to them.

"Also my coaches, Coach Kyte and Coach Thomas, they're really positive role models in my life, and they they've never given up on me since I was a freshman. No matter how many mistakes or injuries or whatever happens, they're always there to help me."
 
Walehwa will miss being a part of OLu athletics, from the team camaraderie to the platform sports provides to share Christ with others. Being a Lancer student athlete has made her high school years an experience she will never forget.

"There's no place like OLu when it comes to sports," says Walehwa "I was so cared about and represented, so I'll miss that connection and that care and knowing that I have people behind me at all times…It's really a blessing that our athletics can be a medium to preach the gospel and spread it in such an easy but amazing way."