ALL-TIME GATOR: The junior attack broke the Shipley boys’ lacrosse career scoring record last Friday, April 20, netting four goals in an 11-1 win against Westtown.

“It's pretty cool,” Hird said. “I did not really aim for the record, but I had pretty decent freshman and sophomore seasons. It just kind of happened.”

Hird’s goal tally stands at 116 (as of Monday, April 23), thanks to his four goals in the Gators’ 8-5 win against Upper Darby in the 7th Annual Katie Samson Festival Saturday. He broke the previous record of 110 goals set last season by Luke Strathmann, who is currently playing lacrosse at Bates.

Shipley (8-2) is off to a good start this spring, thanks in large part to Hird, who has led the way with 34 goals and 11 assists.

SILENT LEADER: Shipley boys’ lacrosse head coach Mark Duncan said, “John is the silent leader on the field. He knows what needs to be done and does it.

“John is very good at creating one-on-one scoring opportunities. His size and strength and great stickwork all make it very difficult to get the ball away from him. Although John plays attack primarily; he also faces off and plays midfield when we need him to create some plays from the defensive end of the field. He is a great defensive player and knows how to come up with big turnovers when the game gets tight.”
As a freshman, Hird was a key factor in the Gators’ first-ever Northeast League title, scoring four goals and dishing out two assists in the 10-5 championship-game victory over Holy Ghost. In the Friends School League championship game last spring, Hird scored five goals in a 16-9 win.

Hird began playing lacrosse in fifth grade, and developed his game in the Great Valley youth program, thanks to coach John Lamb, a past president of the Philadelphia Lacrosse Association.

“Coach Lamb was a great coach,” said Hird. “He had a real passion for the game.”

At Shipley, Hird played basketball his sophomore and junior years and squash as a freshman. He is leaning towards returning to the squash court next winter, and has his sights set on playing collegiate lacrosse.