After 12 years of playing from field to field, senior lacrosse twins Molly Ryan Gates and Summerlin Gates both committed to Mary Washington (MW), a Division III school.
Their passion for lacrosse all started at the age of 6 when their mom introduced them to the sport after she had played in college herself, according to the Gates.
This duo’s passion began with the spring rec league, where they instantly fell in love with the contact and competitive nature of the sport. At 10 years old, they began a travel club team where they received exposure and the opportunity to learn from more experienced coaches.
“It is exciting and challenging which I love,” said Summerlin.
After years of playing club, they joined lacrosse at the high school level. Molly Ryan often takes the draw and plays midfield then moves to defense, while Summerlin plays attack but plays midfield when needed. They both have earned First-Team-All-Region and were voted MVP in 2023. In addition, Molly Ryan made the All-States Second Team in the same year.
“You definitely don’t want to be playing against them on the field because they are insanely good,” said junior teammate Riley Wright. “They pair so well together and work off each other in such a beautiful way on the field.”
Over this past summer, they were part of two club teams, Coastal Crush and Yellow Jackets South, which was believed to be the biggest reason for their recruitment.
While strengthening their skills and working alongside college coaches, they were noticed by the MW coach. The head coach originally assumed they were already recruited based on their abilities. When she was informed they were not, she reached out immediately.
“I’ve had the same coach for 11 years, and I love her to death, but I’m excited to see where new coaching will take me in the future,” said Molly Ryan.
It was never in their original plan to attend the same college, but they both wanted to go to a smaller school that offered the opportunity to focus on academic studies and continue the sport they love. MW fits all their desired criteria.
“Going to the same school will be beneficial because we can help each other in practice. We tend to make each other better,” said Summerlin.
According to the Gates twins, their mother has been their coach ever since they were young, making her their biggest motivator throughout their journey. She has always been there to pick them up after bad days and celebrate their great achievements.
“I love sharing the love of the sport with them. We spend a lot of time together doing things that involve lacrosse,” said mother and lacrosse coach Lauren Logan.“To watch them grow as players and be there every step of the way has been wonderful.”
