It was senior night for Bartow midfielder April Clarke.
In a rivalry game that means so much to the program and Clarke, she was excited and determined to play and win against Winter Haven for the first time this season.
Well, Clarke, who was coming off a very good 2025 season, did very well, helping the Yellow Jackets win 23-10 on March 10. Clarke registered five points, five assists, six ground balls, two caused turnovers, and seven draw controls.
Clarke may have faced other top teams in the county. But it was clear that her talent jumped off the screen, earning a second straight all-county selection. She is The Ledger’s 2026 Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year.
“It feels like such an honor and an accomplish. All of my hard work from the last four years have finally paid off,” Clarke said.
Her head coach, April O’Brian has had an eye for her talent the last four years.
“Anne … has the ability to excel at multiple positions which highlights her lacrosse IQ and adaptability, while her coachability and positive attitude make her a standout teammate and leader both on and off the field,” O’Brien said.
How it all started for Clarke
But before becoming a leader, Clarke needed to have an interest in embarking on the sport. Well, obviously, she did, as she joined lacrosse because of her older sister and brother, Mae and Bennett Clarke, who both played at Bartow; Bennett graduated in 2020 while Mae graduated in 2024. Clarke was able to play with her sister for two years.
After years of watching her siblings play the game from near and afar, Clarke started in ninth grade. And the sport quickly improved her life because it introduced her to some of the most hospitable folks she’s ever known, she said.
At the forefront of Clarke’s maturation process were head coach April O’Brien, as well as assistant coaches Nieve Macedo, and Jennifer Bartel, who all have helped train her in one way or another.
“They helped me learn the game, understand the game, and excel in the game,” she said.
Excellence in the game from a team standpoint happened quickly. Bartow won the district championship her sophomore year before finishing the season 10-4, as she put up 23 ground balls in that season. In her junior year Bartow advanced all the way to the district title game once more before culminating the season at 8-5, and she finished that season with 17 goals, 36 ground balls and 34 draw controls.
And this past season, Clark mustered up a team-leading 29 goals, 54 ground balls and 59 draw controls, taking control as the best player in all of Polk County. She will take her talents to New College of Florida and study psychology.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: How a family affair started a lacrosse career for Bartow’s Anne Clark
Reporting by Robert Magobet, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Magobet, Lakeland Ledger | USA TODAY Network
