Varsity 4 All-News4JAX girls lacrosse: Episcopal’s Brooke McCoy leaves huge legacy

Justin Barney, News4JAX sports editor

Published: July 10, 2026 at 5:30 AM

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The awards and accolades have piled up on Brooke McCoy but it’s not the first thing that she wants to talk about.

Legacy for the Episcopal senior midfielder and two-time Varsity 4 All-News4JAX girls lacrosse player of the year has nothing to do with trophies and ribbons.

Varsity 4 All-News4JAX girls lacrosse players of the year

Year	Player	School
2026	Brooke McCoy	Episcopal
2025	Brooke McCoy	Episcopal
2024	Ryann Frechette	Bartram Trail
2023	Ryann Frechette	Bartram Trail

McCoy ends her time at Episcopal as one of the most accomplished lacrosse players in area history. She racked up 217 goals (career-high 67 in her final season) and 78 assists in a varsity career that began in eighth grade. She won the state’s Miss Lacrosse award in her final season and is headed to Duke.

McCoy had been a known entity since her freshman season yet managed to get better and better every season. The target on her jersey grew with each passing year and McCoy welcomed it.

Episcopal was an established program before McCoy arrived, but she helped keep the Eagles among the state’s more prominent schools. The Eagles reached the state semifinals in McCoy’s final three seasons. She’s quick to deflect the praise, saying the foundation was set long before her.

“Players like Sophia Chepenik, Keely Cleland, like all of those people that they really instilled in me what it means to work hard and what it means to be elite,” McCoy said. “And they pushed us every single day to do better, work harder, next rep. And I think just having that class in front of me really helped set an example for what I could carry on throughout the rest of my high school years.”

McCoy said that she was intimidated by the large lacrosse shadows that Chepenik (Clemson) and Cleland (Arizona State) cast on the field. But it inspired McCoy as a young athlete to learn from older players and then pass it on to the next wave of players as she grew up.

“Looked up to and also scared of,” McCoy said. “And they are the sweetest people, Sophia, Keely, all of those girls from that class. But I think it was a little bit intimidating at first playing with them and knowing that they’re going to these huge, amazing programs. … And I think having their example and having this goal to work towards, to be like them, to play at the next level, to run our team as they did and the leadership that they had, that was kind of the goal.”

Varsity 4 All-News4JAX girls lacrosse team

Player, school, class, notable

Esa Brenneman, Bartram Trail, Jr.

USF commit. Three-time All-News4JAX selection. Had 33 goals, 13 assists for perennial power. Has scored 127 goals, added 69 assists in her career.

Ann Commander, Episcopal, Jr.

Eagles attack star had 50 goals, 17 assists and 29 groundballs. Has 109 goals, 50 assists in her career. Helped Eagles go 9-0 against local programs and 16-4 overall.

Ashley Cotter, Tocoi Creek, Sr.

Four-time All-News4JAX selection. One of the most prolific scorers in state history. Had 91 goals, 31 assists in final season. Had career-high 106 draw controls and had 70 ground balls. Finished with 320 goals, 102 assists. Headed to Stanford.

Payten Cree, Episcopal, Jr.

Another multi-year star for Eagles. Career-high in goals (48) and assists (28) during 16-4 march to the final four. Has 175 career goals, 88 assists. Had 33 draw controls and 22 groundballs. Committed to Army.

Ila Crowe, Ponte Vedra, So.

One of top defenders for state champion Sharks. Had 48 draw controls, 18 groundballs and 14 caused turnovers. Contributed on offense with seven goals.

Anna Giordano, Bolles, Sr.

Four-year starter had 68 goals, 14 assists in her final season. Two-time All-News4JAX selection. Finished career with 261 goals, 55 assists. Added 59 draw controls, 37 groundballs. Headed to Oregon.

Abbi Heilmann, Fletcher, Sr.

Had 77 draw controls, 14 groundballs in final season for 10-5 Senators. Added 14 goals and eight assists. Headed to Converse University as a draw specialist.

Emme Hnath, Episcopal, Sr.

Strong defender for 16-4 Eagles. Had four draw controls, 16 groundballs and had a couple goals and assists. Headed to William & Mary.

Kaitlyn Lease, Bartram Trail, Jr.

Goalie made career-high 184 saves and earned All-American honors

Gracie Madson, Ponte Vedra, Jr.

Ohio State commit is strong on defense and as a draw specialist. Had 28 goals, 11 assists in state championship season. Had 55 goals in her career.

Brooke McCoy, Episcopal, Sr.

Midfielder is two-time Varsity 4 All-News4JAX player of the year and four-time All-News4JAX selection. One of the best players in area history. Scored 67 goals, added 18 assists in final season. Earned state’s Miss Lacrosse award. Finished career with 217 goals, 78 assists. Force on defense, too (554 career draw controls, 180 groundballs). Signed with Duke.

Shelby Pare, Ponte Vedra, So.

Excellent season for Sharks attack player. Led state champions in scoring with 46 goals, 11 assists and 16 groundballs. Had 12 caused turnovers.

Grace Raymond, Ponte Vedra, Jr.

Committed to Penn. Second on the Class 2A state champions in scoring (39 goals, 20 assists, 33 groundballs, 77 draw controls). Has 71 career goals and 32 assists. Honorable mention All-News4JAX soccer selection, too.

Georgia Tuttle, Episcopal, Jr.

Mid and defender who is a Furman commit. Had 33 goals, 30 groundballs, 21 assists. Forced 26 turnovers and had 51 draw controls for area’s top team in the regular season.