Maria Partis, the junior powerhouse of Homer High School’s girls lacrosse team.
With 45 points notched this season, she’s established herself as a formidable force, currently ranked sixth among Section III’s stat leaders. But it’s not just numbers that define Partis’ dominance, it’s the relentless drive and unwavering spirit she brings to every game.
Born in Cortland, NY, but moved to Homer school district at the age of 12, Partis has been playing her favorite sport since she was in the 2nd grade. She used the sport as a way to bond with her older brother.
“Being left handed has definitely had its advantages through my years of playing lacrosse and also starting young and going to many clinics and practices has helped my skills grow,” Partis said. “Being a lefty on the field I definitely see the game from a different perspective. Also, I feel as though I have more passion and drive than some of the girls I play with, so it makes me want to get better and also makes me want to make my team better.”
Partis’ leadership has been very impactful towards the Trojans this season. Not only is she the leading goal scorer on the team, but she always considers herself an important leader for the underclassmen to look up to.
“I think being a leader is important, especially as an upperclassman,” Partis said. “It doesn’t necessarily have to come from being a captain, so for me I try my best to have a positive attitude around the rest of my team and always be open to help any of my teammates when they have questions on our plays or regarding lacrosse in general.”
Sophomore Taryn Quinn reflects on what Partis’ impact on and off the field means to her. Quinn has been apart of the Varsity team for two years now and has been a pivotal player in the Homer’s defense, accumulating 28 ground balls.
“If you know Maria she has an impact wherever she goes, and in our case that may be on and off the field,” Quinn said. “Off the field she is strong willed, independent, and hardworking. Constantly striving for excellence. Whether it be her sports, school work, family or friends. She is always perfecting whatever it may be she is doing. On the field she is talented, direct, and again hardworking.”
According to teammates, Partis’ work ethic is like no other and she is always striving to be the best on the field. Her hard work does not go unshown.
“I admire that Maria knows she always has something to get better at, some people if they ever get to be as talented as Maria they stop putting in the work, because they know they are good. Not Maria,” Quinn said. “She comes to practice everyday wanting to get better, work harder, and become the best. Her dedication to the sport is something everyone sees. She just has this thing about her, she is always striving for more and it is something that I personally and I know a lot of our girls admire too.”
Partis’ leads the charge with her success
As an attacker, Partis boasts an impressive 38 goals, placing her fourth in the region’s scoring charts. In a defining moment back in early April, Partis reached a monumental milestone just six games into the season, securing her 100th career point in a victory over Chittenango High School, 5-4.
“Maria has played an enormous role in the team’s recent success; scoring goals, winning the ball back after offense loses it, cracking a joke when we need it the most, cheering on her teammates, and reaching 100 career points,” Quinn said.
“I play lacrosse year round whether it’s high school lacrosse or my club team so I rarely get a break and I’m always looking to make myself better whether that’s shooting more on my off days or going to more clinics when I can,” Partis said.
Partis is a key player to the Trojans program and a major contribution to her team’s success. With just three years of playing, in 2021 she accumulated 33 goals and 13 assists and in 2022 she accumulated 27 goals and two assists.
Speaking of success, Partis’ impact on the Trojan’s turnaround this season cannot be overstated. With a current record of 7-3, the team has undergone a remarkable transformation from their struggles in the previous year, where they finished with a 4-12 record. Partis’ leadership and performance on the field has been instrumental in driving her team towards victory after victory.
Homer head coach Morgan Seibel told syracuse.com, “Last year was a year of growth for us. We had no seniors and had just lost seven seniors from the previous year. The program worked diligently to learn different aspects of the game and enhance individual skills that would contribute to our improvement. The girls could foresee what lay ahead and dedicated themselves to ensuring that we were prepared to rebound. Fast forward to this year, and the girls are reaping the rewards of their hard work. We remain impressed by their dedication and unity as a team.”
The Trojans have grown and learned a lot from last season. Their 2022-23 season was a year of rebuilding for the team, and has so far been working in their favor this season. Quinn shares what it was like playing alongside Partis in the Trojan’s 2022-23 season.
“Last year Maria struggled with staying positive, as many of us do. If she messed up on a play, that would be all she would think about,” Quinn said. “It would throw off her whole practice/game/day. This year, from my perspective Maria has really shown growth in the aspect of putting it in your back pocket, the next play is hers, and if you let yourself get down, it only makes it worse.”
What’s next for Partis?
As her performance continues to impress, speculation grows: will Partis pursue lacrosse at the collegiate level?
“I’ve gone to many prospect clinics for all different colleges and that kind of helped me make my decision of whether or not I want to play in college,” Partis said. “College is a different type of game and going to these prospect days allows me to get a chance to see how it would feel to play on a college team,” she explains, adding that it has always been a dream of hers to play in college and knowing it can happen is very exciting to her.
Partis has been looking into schools in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Rochester has a few that she has her eyes on. Partis is looking to commit by the end of her Junior year.
“I have had the honor of knowing her for many years, and watching her completely bloom this year has been something so worth waiting for,” Quinn said. “She is so insanely talented, and underappreciated. I am very excited to see where she goes, in lacrosse and life.”