Photography by Steve Buchanan
Marley Helton has two passions: lacrosse and her academic studies. Helton, a junior at St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, has carried a weighted 4.38 grade-point average. That was the highest average in her class at the time of this writing.
When it comes to lacrosse, Helton’s journey to play Division I is forging ahead. The 16-year-old Helton took a key step this summer in refining her skills and raising her profile. She attended five college lacrosse camps in June and July, including at Harvard, Villanova, Pittsburgh, Virginia Commonwealth, and Richmond.
“This is when you really want to start getting looks from colleges,” Helton says. “I want to play Division I lacrosse and win a national championship. I think I am on the path to play Division I lacrosse because of my work ethic.”
That might not have been the case as recently as the summer of last year. Though the 5-foot-3 Helton was playing her third season for the Uproar Lacrosse club, her skills needed work. But over the last year, Helton developed her skills. Now, she’s a blossoming player. It’s all because of her work ethic.
“A year ago, she was good,” says Uproar Lacrosse’s Mark Mozier, who has coached the sport for 14 years. “This year, she worked on her game and became a factor. She got better, better, and better. You don’t see a lot of kids improve that much that fast. Next year, she is going to dominate.”
Mozier, who also doubles as Pallotti’s girls’ lacrosse coach, saw a big jump in Helton’s statistics from her freshman year (15 goals, 11 assists, 39 ground balls) to sophomore (40, 30, 67). She made an impact in a lot of games in 2022, including in a regular-season finale against Beth Tfiloh (4 goals, 4 assists) and in two playoff contests versus Key School (7 goals) and Indian Creek (4 goals).
“Her lacrosse I.Q. is really good,” Mozier says. “She sees everything. I think that comes from basketball. And she never gets tired. She was my horse this year.”
Helton served as lacrosse co-captain this past season, and Mozier needed her to put her leadership skills to work. She became a recruiter for the team when Pallotti had a shortage of players. “She did a really good job with that,” Mozier recalls. “She got four basketball players to try out.”
Helton enjoys playing basketball and soccer at Pallotti, too. The guard worked as the sixth woman both of her years on the varsity hoops team. She has suited up for AAU basketball teams in the summer since the sixth grade, including the 15-U Team Durant in 2021. She co-captained the squad and led it in assists and steals.
Helton scored the second-most goals and earned Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland C Conference honors from the midfield position in her second season on the Pallotti varsity soccer team.
Helton can balance a lot. Between her sports teams, a rigorous course load, and serving as junior class president, she still finds time for activities outside of school. She loves to help with community service projects for the Bowie-based National Council of Negro Women. The organization supports a family in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas, creating food bags for the homeless, sending cards to service men and women overseas, and individuals in nursing homes.
“She is mature beyond her years,” Pallotti Women’s Athletic Director LeeAnn Elman says. “She is one of the best athletes on the teams she plays on, but she still works harder than anybody. She is any high school or college coach’s dream. She is the all-around package.”
Do you have a local athlete to nominate? Send What's Up? an email to editor@whatsupmag.com.
