By Matt Pascarella
(L to R) Windham senior Neve Ledbetter, center seated, with parents Nikki, Don, brother Will, back right, and grandmother June Williams after Neve Ledbetter signs her letter of intent at Windham High School on Friday, Nov. 14. Neve Ledbetter will attend Southern New Hampshire University to major in neuroscience and play lacrosse. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA Windham senior Abby Trainor, center, with parents Shannon and Jeremy and sister Addison after Abby Trainor signs her letter of intent at Windham High School on Friday, Nov. 14. Abby Trainor will attend Fairfield University in Connecticut to major in business and play lacrosse. PHOTO BY MARLEY JARVAIS
Windham seniors Neve Ledbetter and Abby Trainor have been inspiring each other on and off the lacrosse field their entire athletic careers. They became friends in eighth grade and have been succeeding ever since. They each signed their letters of intent at Windham High School on Friday, Nov. 14. Ledbetter will be attending Southern New Hampshire University to major in neuroscience and Trainor will be attending Fairfield University in Connecticut to major in business; both will play lacrosse.
“We knew right off the bat (as freshmen) with their work ethic what we had coming,” said Windham varsity girls’ lacrosse coach Matt Perkins about Ledbetter and Trainor. “What we didn’t know is in their sophomore years, we had some leaders who kind of struggled with (leading) and these two started to spearhead that leadership and their peers jumped onboard and helped them. They proved to us and each other anything is possible if you want to work your tail off. Last year, they elevated the program, they elevated the team, and the team really took care of each other and every kid felt like they were important. We’ve got one more season to go and I am very honored to be a part of it.”
Neve Ledbetter
Ledbetter started playing lacrosse in eighth grade and found it was a really good fit for her. This is when she met Trainor. The two played club lacrosse all through high school and Ledbetter continued playing because of Trainor’s encouragement.
When Ledbetter stepped on to Southern New Hampshire University she felt a real ‘at home’ vibe. The campus made her feel welcome and wanted.
It felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders to finally sign her letter of intent. It made her think of all her past accomplishments and felt really good to sign alongside Trainor.
“Abby has been my ‘ride or die’ since middle school,” said Ledbetter. “She’s been someone I look up to and has been a huge leader to me throughout my lacrosse seasons. (Windham varsity lacrosse) paved a huge path ... they taught me how to be the person and player I am today. I wouldn’t be here without them, and my teammates especially have been super helpful.”
Ledbetter received the All-Academic Team award for maintaining a GPA of at least 3.5 for six semesters. She’s received the Dr. Richard Costello Memorial Award, based on leadership skills and captain characteristics.
She would like to thank Trainor, Perkins, Vanessa Ludka, Rusty Babb and Lauren Kane from Maineiax Lacrosse as well as her friends, family and varsity girls’ soccer coach Deb Lebel.
Abby Trainor
As soon as Trainor stepped onto the Fairfield University campus, it felt very welcoming. She thought the campus was full of life and very innovative.
She’s been committed to Fairfield University for a while, so finally signing felt awesome. For her to get to sign with Ledbetter was an even better feeling because of their friendship.
According to Trainor, it was important the two sign together to show each other that each of them had to rely on each other to get to this spot.
Trainor started playing lacrosse around kindergarten or first grade through Windham Youth Lacrosse. She played from third grade to the eighth grade in the youth program. She’s always loved the sport.
“All my teammates really push me every time I come into a new season,” said Trainor. “I became so much better (in high school) because of the coaches bringing me new plays and with the team being so heavy on offense and defense it helped me play at a higher level.”
Off the field, Trainor is part of the Spanish Honor Society and has participated in food drive donations and has given her time to reading to primary school students.
She would like to thank Coach Perkins, Babb and Ludka, as well as Ledbetter, Kane and her family. <
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