Not many athletes are willing to stand in the line of fire while hard rubber balls zip toward them, but that’s where River Bluff’s Mary Stone thrives. 

The rising junior shows no fear in net as the Gator girls lacrosse team’s goalie. She has emerged as one of the top goalies in the state, earning All-District and All-State honors last season. She was also voted the 2026 Lexington County Female Athlete of the Year.   

“I think it’s cool that I got those, but I still have two years left, so a lot I still want to do,” Stone said. 

Her path to success wasn’t always set in stone, though. She first picked up the lacrosse stick in fifth grade before joining the River Bluff JV team in middle school. 

It was there that Stone made the switch to goalie. She started just trying it out a bit in seventh grade, but when the team needed a player to fill that position the next year, Stone volunteered. 

Since then, she has worked tirelessly to perfect her skills and embraced the challenges that come with playing the position. 

“It’s really fun, but you should try to face as many shots as possible,” Stone said. “That’s how you get better fast, and do more competition stuff outside of high school.”

Stone gets extra work in playing club lacrosse for Rapids, one of South Carolina’s top programs filled with talent from various Midlands high schools. 

Through repetition, she has reached a point where she is totally locked in when standing in goal. Her mind is focused, despite the adrenaline kick that comes when the starting whistle blows. 

“I’ve never been afraid of the ball or getting hit,” Stone said. “If I’m getting hit a bunch, I don’t even think about it.” 

Her mentality has not only elevated her play but also that of the entire River Bluff team. 2026 was one of the best seasons in program history as the Gators advanced to the state semifinal. 

Stone and the defense kept other teams from scoring, while the Gators' offense buried them in a mountain of points.

River Bluff fell one game short of making its first state title appearance, but lost to cross-town rival Lexington in the playoffs. The loss was a familiar heartbreak that Stone and the team are looking to move on from next season. 

“It was kind of disappointing, because we lost to Lexington in the third round, and my freshman year, we also lost to Lexington in the third round,” Stone said. 

She is looking forward to getting back on the field next season to help River Bluff clear that hurdle and achieve more. 

Before her time with the Gators is done, she wants to be named an All-American and help River Bluff win its first girls lacrosse state title. 

While she has college on her mind, Stone is not eager to rush things and wants to enjoy the final few seasons she has left with her teammates. 

Opportunities to continue lacrosse beyond high school are developing, but it's still early for Stone to decide or lean in any direction. Academically, she is interested in exercise science. 

No matter where the future takes her, she will continue to face each challenge with the same fearlessness that has defined her career in the cage.