by By Dan Ninham
Girls playing the contact sport of boys’ lacrosse compared to non-contact for the girls’ game is becoming more and more evident in the lacrosse world.
Rilee Powless, 17, grew up in the hotbed of boys’ lacrosse, with a few girls contributing, in Oneida, WI. She currently lives in Grand Junction, CO. She is entering her senior year at Grand Junction HS.
“My Navajo maternal clans are White Corn Zuni People adopted by the Navajo, Red Water Running into the Water People, my mother’s clan,” said Rilee. “My Navajo paternal clans are Bit’ta’hni clan (maternal), Maii’desh’gesh’nii clan (paternal). My father is half Navajo, these clans are his mother’s clans as well as her fathers.”
“My father is an enrolled Oneida,” said Rilee. “I was adopted into the Wolf Clan.”
Rilee has many accomplishments with lacrosse and basketball. She was one of the select girls who competed on an all-boys Oneida Community lacrosse team. “I am hopeful to have been able to lead the path for other girls who want to play lacrosse as well,” said Rilee.
“This is my first year playing on a high school girls’ lacrosse team,” said Rilee. “At first it was a transition from playing with boys to now playing with girls and adjusting to the different set of rules, but everything has worked out, I’m happy to be playing and contributing to our team’s success.”
Rilee was a member of the 2021 Grand Junction girls’ lacrosse team that went undefeated during the regular season with 10 wins. This was the first time the team made it to the state tournament.
The team recently lost 17-4 to Castle View in the Colorado Class 4A state semifinals. Grand Junction held off Northfield 14-10 in the second round after receiving a first round bye. The team finished the season with an 11-1 record.
On the team, Rilee was the third leading scorer with 26 goals, and tied in leading the team in assists with 12.
Rilee was named to the Class 4A Mountain All-League Girls Lacrosse First Team.
“I also play basketball,” said Rilee. “I started playing in traveling basketball tournaments in third grade.”
“In 2017, I represented the Navajo and Oneida Nations in the North American Indigenous Games for Team Wisconsin, and our basketball team won the gold medal. Also, since my freshman year, I have played and contributed on the varsity basketball team at Seymour Community HS in Seymour, WI,” added Rilee.
Tribal core values define who student athletes are and how they perceive their role in their world. Being Oneida and Navajo encourages Rilee to share the significance in both indigenous ways of knowing and being.
“I believe it is important that we take care of ourselves and strive to do our best in all we do, in athletics and in life,” said Rilee. “By doing so, I strive to be balanced, and try not to get focused on just one thing. These core beliefs are supported in the Navajo teachings that we should walk in harmony and the Oneida’s by having a strong fire.”
“Whether in athletics or in life, I plan to do my best, and commit to what it is I am doing,” added Rilee.
Rilee is keeping her options open at this time to further her education or serve in the armed forces.
Maddie Hathaway, Grand Junction girls’ lacrosse head coach, was named the 2021 Class 4A Mountain All-Leage Girls’ Lacrosse Coach of the Year.
“Rilee has been an incredible outlet on the attacking end of the field,” said Maddie Hathaway, Grand Juction HS girls’ lacrosse head coach. “She has incredible timing and almost always finishes with a goal. She is incredible at losing her defender and finding open space. When she is not the one scoring the goal she always manages to find her teammates for a quick feed and goal. She is incredibly athletic and is a wonderful addition to the team.”
“Coach Stevens has always supported me in my development as a lacrosse player and person by skill development and sharing the teachings of the Creator’s game,” said Rilee. “Coach Stevens has invested a lot of time and energy into coaching, and I plan to do the same”.
“Throughout the years we’ve had one or two girls on our team per year on average, and they’re always one of the better athletes on the team,” said Ernest Stevens III, Oneida Community Lacrosse U13 head coach. “Rilee is no exception. She learned the game fast, clearly worked at it, and soon became one of our best players and helped us win a championship.”
“Rilee was very coachable, and made a great team member who could score, defend, and drop dimes to her teammates. I knew she could take this game on and I’m just happy she’s still playing and hope she plays all her life.”
“Coach Summers has also helped me become a better lacrosse player, as well as teaching the purpose of the Creator’s game,” said Rilee. “Coach Summers has always encouraged me to do my best. This motivates me to provide the same encouragement to the girls in my communities in the game of lacrosse and in life”.
“Rilee was our last girl to play in our program,” said Butch Summers, Oneida Community Lacrosse U15 coach. “A girl with a good attitude, a good outlook, and a knack for lax. She outplayed a lot of boys that she went up against. Always leaving 110% on the field.”
“She didn’t want to be on a girls’ team, because you can’t hit. That right there got her a starting spot,” added Butch.
Photo Credit: Christopher Tomlinson, Grand Junction Daily Sentinel
