The Connection

Kendall Cunningham started her high school lacrosse career as a standout freshman at West Potomac. She transferred to Bishop Ireton prior to her sophomore season, and spent the next three years helping the Cardinals become a championship program.

In 2014, Cunningham’s senior season, Bishop Ireton defeated Good Counsel to win the WCAC championship, and beat national power St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes to win the VISAA state title. Cunningham scored three goals during the Cardinals’ 9-7 win over SSSA.

Cunningham, who received WCAC honorable mention as a senior, will continue her lacrosse career at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. She recently participated in a Q&A via email with the Gazette Packet.

*Gazette Packet: What made Rhodes College the right fit for you?

Cunningham: I am very interested in studying abroad, joining a sorority, and playing lacrosse. At Rhodes I can do all of that, where at a D-I school I would be limited to only lacrosse. I also really wanted to go to school down south, and Memphis is a great city with awesome music and food.

*Gazette Packet: What will your major be? What position will you play?

Cunningham: I plan on majoring in business and commerce, and I will be playing attack and some midfield.

Gazette Packet: At what age did you start playing lacrosse? When did you realize playing college lacrosse was a possibility for you?

Cunningham: I started playing lacrosse at 8 years old and I realized in the eighth grade that lacrosse would be something I would like to continue to play after high school.

*Gazette Packet: Ireton won the 2014 WCAC championship game against a Good Counsel team that had beaten you in the tournament final the previous year. What did it feel like to win the WCAC title?

Cunningham: Good Counsel has been a serious rival for us since I transferred. We had a tough in-season game against them and they were expecting to come out on top again during this year’s WCAC championship game. It made the 10-goal victory [17-7] that much sweeter.

*Gazette Packet: The VISAA state title came against national powerhouse and fellow Alexandria school St. Stephen's & St. Agnes. What did it feel like to win the state title?

Cunningham: it really put Bishop Ireton girls’ lax on the map. Scoring three out of the nine goals that day was the best feeling ever, especially after being down 4-0 in the first few minutes. BI lax is now seen as a force to be reckoned with.

*Gazette Packet: You were a standout on the West Potomac lax team as a freshman before transferring to Bishop Ireton. How would you describe the experience of changing schools, including the change from public to private?

Cunningham: It was definitely a big change for me. I was depended on by team a lot more as a freshman. On the Ireton lax team, we all depended on each other equally, and everyone had a job on the team. Transferring from public to private was hard but paid off in the long run.

*Gazette Packet: What is your favorite memory of playing high school lacrosse?

Cunningham: My favorite memory was winning the WCAC and VISAA championships during my senior season.

*Gazette Packet: If you could go back and change one thing about your high school athletic career, what would it be?

Cunningham: There is nothing I would have changed. I had an awesome experience at both West Potomac and Bishop Ireton. I had the best of both worlds.

*Gazette Packet: What are you most looking forward to about the transition from high school to college?

Cunningham: Continuing my athletic and academic success. I am excited to be a part of the Rhodes women's lacrosse team.

*Gazette Packet: What is your favorite food?

Cunningham: Baked ziti.

*Gazette Packet: Who is your favorite music artist? Why?

Cunningham: Arctic Monkeys. They are unique and they have a diverse style of music.

*Gazette Packet: What is your favorite movie? Why?

Cunningham: All of ‘The Fast and the Furious’ movies. I am a big fan of Paul Walker, for obvious reasons.

*Gazette Packet: What is your favorite hobby outside of lacrosse?

Cunningham: Jet skiing and boating at my river house.

*Gazette Packet: What location is the farthest you have traveled from the Washington, D.C. metro area?

Cunningham: Costa Rica.

*Gazette Packet: Are you a pro sports fan? If so, who are your favorite teams?

Cunningham: I am a die-hard Redskins fan. I love football. I also enjoy watching the Capitals and Wizards.