It’s not the Summer Olympics, but it’s about as close as you can get if you’re a 16-year-old girl.
Ainsley James of Bainbridge Island is playing in the U20 World Championship Women’s Lacrosse finals in China. Ainsley, a student at Bainbridge High School, is playing for the Italian National team as she has dual citizenship in BI and Prizzi, Italy.
One of 20 teams competing, the Italian squad clinched a spot in the quarterfinals with an 11-10 win over Scotland. Ainsley led the team with three goals, including the game-winner. It took a major comeback as Scotland took a 3-0 lead and led 7-1 after 21 minutes. Scotland still led by three at halftime. But Italy tied then took the lead in the fourth period. Ainsley’s final goal came with 6 minutes left, and Italy held on to win.
Italy also has beaten Mexico and New Zealand to place second in Pool C. It advanced to a game against No. 1 seeded Canada Aug. 21, after this newspaper’s deadline.
Ainsley started playing lacrosse in the third grade. She started on varsity as a freshman for BHS and is primarily an attacker, but also plays midfield. She made all-conference in the Metro League, along with teammates midfielders Izzy Pujolar and Lindsey Kate Meyers, defender Avery Pujolar and goalie Giada DiMarco. She plays select for Arc Lacrosse of Mercer Island and plans to play in college. And, who knows, lacrosse will be back in the Olympics in four years.
The Italian National Team hosted its first U.S.-based tryout last fall in New Jersey. Ainsley was then invited to attend a training camp at the Italian Olympic Training facility outside Pisa, Italy, last January. She was told in April she made the final roster. In June she attended a mandatory training session in Milan, Italy, where they scrimmaged against teams from Harvard and Switzerland.
In an email, Ainsley’s mom, Amy James, says: “She loves being a part of a team, loves her teammates and coaches, and is a competitor who strives to win. Her strength as a player is her vision of the field and ability to play unselfishly. She likes to make assists as much as score a goal.”
The entire James family went to support Ainsley in China.
“The World Championship in Hong Kong has been an amazing experience,” her mom says in the email. “The opening ceremonies included a performance with a dancing dragon and local pop stars, while each nation’s athletes were introduced as they walked around Mong Kok stadium in Kowloon. The host city has been incredible, and we have been able to enjoy the people, the culture and the sites of Hong Kong.”
This is the first time Ainsley has competed internationally. “Ainsley loves her coaches and teammates and knows this is a very special group and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Ainsley is one of the youngest girls on the team and has embraced getting to make 21 new friends that live in Europe and the United States.”
