By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/24/22
Harriton 2023 defender Tessa Mahoney has been named the Pansini Law Group Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
The award recognizes senior and junior lacrosse players that excel in academics, service and athletics.
Tessa Mahoney Profile:
High School: Harriton High School
Grad Year: 2023
Position: Defender
Club Team: Dynasty Elite
Academic Honors: 5.0 GPA out of 5.0 – IB track; member of the International Baccalaureate Program, Lower Merion School District STEM certificate winner, Distinguished Honor Roll in high school; member of FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and Girls Who Code.
Community Service:
*”Acting without boundaries is an organization that puts on an annual musical consisting of actors of all ages with physical disabilities. I aid the actors with their lines, help with communication between actors and directors, aid with technology, do set design, and help keep the younger kids entertained on long rehearsal days.
*”Inglis house is an organization that provides housing and other resources to adults with severe physical disabilities. I have been raising money for Inglis House since I was 8 after my uncle became a quadriplegic and I created a school project where we got to support a charity for a year. I have been raising money and helping ever since. I won the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy award for my fundraising.
*”I am a freshman mentor at Harriton. I have a group of 12 freshmen that I, along with a few other upperclassmen, meet with weekly and do lessons with them regarding topics that affect our lives (racism, autism awareness, LGBTQ rights, online safety, etc.). We also aim to be a figure in their transition into high school that they can go to for anything they may need regarding stress, class schedules, issues with friends, etc.
*”I am a part of Girls Who Code, which is a club that provides coding lessons to girls in order to give them the skills they need for a rapidly developing world.
*”I coach elementary and middle school girls’ lacrosse with Dynasty Elite and Lower Merion Youth.”
Lacrosse Honors: 3-year starter on defense
How do you define leadership: “I define leadership as being able to bring a team farther than what they believed was possible. If I can give confidence to all of my teammates, then we can push ourselves to the next level. I also see leadership as being the person to take control of a situation when something goes wrong. Mistakes happen, but if I can step up and motivate our team to keep pushing, then we will be able to find success. As a leader, I am someone my teammates can trust to change the momentum of a game or change the attitude of a practice. I also aim to be someone that younger people look up to, which is why I love to coach youth lacrosse and being a freshman mentor. Younger players are constantly feeding off older players’ actions and words, which is why I prioritize being a strong role model on and off the field.”
How do you balance academics, service, and athletics? “Some of the best advice I have ever received was from a sports psychologist we worked with at my club. He told us to do something each day that helps us improve as a student, as an athlete, and as a person. When I break up my day into prioritizing these three things, I am better able to manage my time and manage my stress. Also, I try to find passion in every activity that I do. Going into everything with positivity yields better results, not just on the field, but in the classroom and in the community. Being organized, disciplined, and hardworking lets me explore diverse activities and helps me find success in my many different ventures.”
What are your future goals? “I would love to be able to play lacrosse at a college that challenges me academically. Regarding a career, I want to be able to combine business with my love of STEM. In the future, I want to continue to help people with physical disabilities to live life with more confidence and independence.”
High school coaches from the 5-county area, Delaware, South Jersey, the Lehigh Valley and Central PA may nominate a player (junior or senior) for the Pansini Law Group Scholar-Athlete of the Week by e-mailing us at golax@phillylacrosse.com
