Sprinting full force up the field with her lacrosse stick in hand and eyes on the goal, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School junior Carli Fleisher gets ready to score the winning point of the game.

Carli Fleisher is an attackman for the MSD women’s varsity lacrosse team. Fleisher was born and raised in Parkland, Florida. 

Starting out her lacrosse career at the age of eight years old, Fleisher played for the Parkland Red Hawks. 

“I was always very active and played all the recreational sports,” Fleisher (14) said.“I got into lacrosse because my best friend’s mom made me try out! I originally didn’t want to but I went out and fell in love with the sport.” 

After playing for recreation sports, Fleisher started her lacrosse journey by joining the women’s lacrosse team at Westglades Middle School.  

After playing for the WMS women’s lacrosse team, Fleisher made it onto the MSD women’s varsity lacrosse team her freshman year.  

Making it onto the varsity team as a freshman was a huge accomplishment for Fleisher, as varsity is usually geared to upperclassmen. Furthermore, this achievement was one that would lead her towards bigger achievements following her high school career. This was just the beginning of her successful lacrosse lifestyle, as she began to train for much bigger accomplishments. 

For her training, Fleisher meets with a personal trainer at One to One Fitness studio. While training, she focuses on various workouts, such as speed training, weight lifting and conditioning.

“To practice my lacrosse skills, I usually will have a team practice multiple times a week with either my high school or travel team (depending on what season),” Fleisher said. “On my own, I do the rebounder which helps with stick skills; it consists of throwing the ball back and forth against a ‘net’. I also will go to Pine Trails (either by myself or with others) and work on my dodging and shooting.”

Since COVID-19 hit, many athletes have had to take a break from practicing and competing with their team regularly. However, the pandemic has not stopped Fleisher from making sure she kept up with her training. 

“To keep up with training and practice when COVID-19 hit, we had to get creative,” Fleisher said. “I followed workouts, went on runs, went up to pine trails park and did everything I could to keep in shape. I tried to mimic the workouts I would do with my trainer by myself at home.” 

However, Fleisher has returned back to her regular scheduled training, continuing to meet with her personal trainer at One to One fitness, maintaining precautions such as wearing a mask. 

After numerous years of continuous training, playing, competing and winning, Fleisher’s hard work paid off by committing to play division one lacrosse at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. 

“My biggest accomplishment in my lacrosse career is committing to play division one lacrosse at Northwestern University,” Fleisher said. “Another accomplishment was being selected to play for the Under Armour All American South team. This team is chosen by a variety of respected coaches, we then go and play other regions of the Country. It was honorable to be selected to represent the South.” 

Not only has lacrosse been built into a career for her, but it has also helped her obtain many traits that she can take with her in the world outside of lacrosse. 

“Lacrosse has taught me a lot over the years. It has built me into the person I am today. As the captain of my travel team, I have had to step up and be a leader from a young age. It has taught me the importance of communication and teamwork,” Fleisher said. “I have also made lifelong friends who encourage me to be the best I can be. It has also taught me to be grateful for the opportunities that I have been given. Overall lacrosse is such a large aspect of my life that it has taught me so many valuable lessons.”

Teammate Zoe Zentefis (6) can agree that Fleisher thrives in the leadership position for her team. 

“Although Carli is not a captain, she always takes the initiative to help out players and encourage them to play to their best ability. Many players look up to her because of her skill and optimism,” Zentefis said.

With everything that Fleisher has achieved, she is looking forward to using these experiences beyond high school and Fleisher is thrilled to soon play D1 at Northwestern University.