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The junior midfielder, who was the Rams’ Defensive MVP last year, has turned into a potent scorer this spring, with 14 goals (through April 3) as well as 35 draw controls. Last year, she was the Rams’ co-leader in draw controls and received All-Central League lacrosse honors. Williams also has competed in cross country, volleyball and winter track for Harriton. Her older sister Katelin was an integral part of the Rams’ drive to the PIAA 3A girls’ lacrosse state championship in 2019. Harriton girls’ lacrosse head coach Brooke Fritz said, “Makenna is an outstanding athlete who has always excelled on the defensive end and in transition. This year we’ve needed her to expand her comfort zone and become an offensive threat and she has risen to the task. She’s an unselfish player and a great teammate and we are just beginning to tap her potential.”
Q: Makenna, what aspects of your game did you work on the most during the past off-season?
A: Throughout the year I had been practicing my stick skills, and over the winter I focused on improving my shot.
Q: You were co-leader in draw controls last season with 52, and you have more than 20 this season. What do you think has been the key(s) to a successful draw control for you?
A: The most important thing for me has been scooping under the ball as soon as I hear the whistle blow so I can control where the ball is going.
Q: What has been your favorite experience with the Harriton girls’ lacrosse team?
A: My sophomore year, we traveled to Florida over spring break where we played IMG Academy’s lacrosse team, and beat them in overtime 16-15.
Q: Tell us a little about your start in competitive lacrosse – have you always been a midfielder?
A: I used to play lots of midfield when I was younger, but once I started club I was put in as a defender. A couple years later I switched clubs to Dynasty, which is when I started playing midfield and have been playing ever since.
Q: Who have been your top lacrosse mentors, and what was the most important thing you learned from each of them?
A: My Dynasty club coach, Coach Duck (Jen Duckenfield), has been the most impactful lacrosse mentor for me because she taught me how to be more confident when I play. When I had first joined Dynasty, I was extremely nervous to interact with the other players, but Coach Duck had continued to encourage me as I kept playing with the team. Growing more confident around my teammates has allowed me to push myself harder in practice, which has led me to where I am now.
Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 14 for Harriton lacrosse – is there a reason you chose that number?
A: I wear No. 14 because it sounds like the number 40, which is my club lacrosse number. There isn’t anything wrong with 40, I just decided to switch jerseys out of the blue.
Q: What has been your favorite lacrosse experience outside of Harriton?
A: Outside of Harriton, my favorite lacrosse experience was when my team celebrated the 2025s graduating out of my club and we all got to hang out and eat water ice.
Q: What is your favorite academic course at Harriton? What do you plan to major in at college?
A: My favorite course at Harriton is my physics class, and although I don’t know what I’m going to major in yet, it’ll definitely be something STEM related.
Fun facts – Makenna Williams
Favorite book: The Song of Achilles.
Favorite movie: Mulan II.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore.
Favorite place to visit: Outer Banks.
Favorite pre-game meal: An apple.
Person I most admire, and why: “I admire my older sister Katelin the most because she’s determined and extremely hard-working. No matter what she does, she always goes as hard as she can and is the kind of person that, once setting her mind on something, always figures out a way to get it. As a lacrosse player she was constantly finding new ways to improve her skills, but also never missed out on a chance to support the people around her. After watching her win the state championship for lacrosse in 2019, I can say positively that she is the person and player I strive to be.”
Family members: parents Andrew and June, older sisters Katelin and Caroline and older brother Grant.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
To view a gallery of the previous Main Line Girls Athletes of the Week click here
