Some families gather around the dinner table; others gather on the sidelines. For the Lewison family, the game of lacrosse has become the place where everything comes together. It is where each member of the family has found their own meaningful role in something larger than themselves. 

Dad Jeff Lewison’s connection to lacrosse began more than 25 years ago. He played at Bellevue High School from 1990 to 1993 and was part of the 1991 state championship team. Years later, Jeff returned to lacrosse in a different role. He stepped in as a coach, first for his son Henry and later for his son Clyde. Over nine years with Bellevue boys' lacrosse, he helped develop players across multiple age groups. Coaching became less about the game itself and more about what the game teaches--showing up, working through setbacks, being accountable to yourself and to the team. 

 

Henry, the oldest, played lacrosse through his senior year at Bellevue High School and graduated in 2024. He is now a sophomore at UC Santa Barbara. Like many players who come through the Bellevue program, the relationships and habits built on the field have carried forward into the next chapter of his life. 

 

Charlotte, a junior at Bellevue High School, plays midfield and attack and currently serves as a captain of the Bellevue girls varsity lacrosse team. Last season, the team advanced to the state tournament where they finished fifth place in Washington. Their ranking is a true reflection of both individual effort and the strength of the program as a whole. Lacrosse is not seasonal for Charlotte. It is a year-round competition filled with new adventures and loads of travel. Her schedule includes multi-day training camps, weekend tournaments, and regular competition at a high level. 

 

That level of commitment comes with tradeoffs and a bit of sacrifice. Last spring, she left school early to compete on the East Coast. In addition to her commitment to Bellevue, she also plays on a team based in Texas and a national team, Tenacity, competing in tournaments during her high school off season. Some of her best memories of the game are from the American Select Tournament in Delaware where she played on the PNW 2027 team. In the fall, weekends are often spent traveling to tournaments across the country. It is a demanding schedule, but one she has chosen with clarity and purpose. 

 

Clyde, the youngest, is just beginning his high school lacrosse career. As a freshman at Bellevue High School, he plays midfield and contributes to both JV and varsity teams. He has grown up in the program, playing with many of the same teammates for the past eight years. For him, the sport is as much about connection as it is about competition. Clyde also gives back to the program that shaped him. He volunteers in the youth program helping them build the same skills he learned at their age. It is a natural extension of the culture within Bellevue lacrosse, where older players support younger and leadership is modeled early. This is Clyde’s chosen band of brothers. In the high school off-season Clyde plays club lacrosse for CitySide Lax.  

 

At the center of it all is mom Meghan Lewison. As former treasurer and current co-president of the Bellevue Girls Lacrosse board, Meghan has played a critical role in rebuilding and expanding the program following the COVID-19 shutdown. Participation numbers dropped significantly, as they did in many youth sports programs. What followed was a focused effort to bring players back, rebuild community, and create opportunities for even more girls to engage with the sport. 

 

Today, through the efforts of a dedicated board of directors and families across the area, the program is stronger than it has ever been. There are now 150 girls participating in Bellevue Girls Lacrosse, with teams spanning every level--two teams at the kindergarten through second grade level; three teams for third and fourth grade; one team for fifth and sixth grade; one for seventh and eighth. At the high school level, the program supports both JV and varsity teams. 

 

Growth has come with intention. The program now includes a JV and varsity retreat in Cle Elum each year, creating space for team building outside of competition. Younger players are invited to summer camps, high school games, and senior nights, giving them early exposure to what the program can become. That structure matters. It gives younger athletes clear role models. It allows them to see what is possible if they stay with the sport. It builds continuity across age groups and creates a sense of belonging that extends beyond individual teams. 

 

The impact is visible. Players form strong bonds through shared effort and fair play, with a focus on individual and team development. The environment is competitive and supportive. It is a way to build resilience, confidence, and community. Players are asked to operate outside of their comfort zones, to take risks, and to grow from both success and failure. 

 

The Lewison family reflects that experience. Each member has approached the game differently. Jeff through coaching, Meghan through program development, Henry through years of competitive play, Charlotte through year-round training and national competition, and Clyde through personal development and early leadership. What connects them is not just the sport. It is a shared understanding of what a sport like lacrosse provides--a place to belong, to develop, to challenge what’s possible. 

 

For families interested in joining the Bellevue lacrosse community, summer camp enrollment is now open. Additional information, including registration details for both boys and girls programs, is available through the Bellevue lacrosse websites and program coordinators.