Hunter Vines '18 Leaves a Remarkable Legacy
Four-year starter graduates with school's career scoring record
When Head Lacrosse Coach Jeff Miles first met Hunter Vines '18 six years ago, he was just 5 foot 2, 110 pounds. Miles saw talent but had no idea Hunter would turn into the player and man he is today. "He had the intensity, drive, and fight, but he was tiny," Miles said. "You could just tell he was the toughest kid on the field. He had all the tools to be a special player."
Fast forward six years, and Vines graduates as one of the most decorated Lacrosse players in North Carolina. Vines leaves Christ School as the school's All-Time Leading Goal Scorer (203), second in All-Time Points (312) and Assists (109), was named an All-State three times and All-American in 2017 and 2018 and helped lead Christ School Lacrosse in taking home two State Championships.
"If you had told me when I first came to Christ School, I would be anywhere near those numbers, I would have laughed," Vines said on a phone call. "In 8th and 9th grade, I wasn't anything special and I didn't even expect to start until my junior year. I just made sure to take every practice seriously and work hard in the weight room. When I did that, things started happening."
Vines started as a Freshman and instantly made a positive impact on the team as the Greenies made their first State Championship appearance his sophomore season. Then, last year, the team returned to the State Championship setting a state record by winning by 16 goals.
After the Greenies won their first State Championship and graduated the likes of Smith, Iorio, and Cinque in 2017, Vines was asked to step up to a greater level. Boy, did he ever. "Coming into this season, we graduated high-level talent, and he really stepped up his level of leadership and play for the team, Coach Miles explained. "He lifted four or five days a week in season, had three game-winning goals. When we needed a big play, it was always him."
Vines finished the season scoring 79 goals and had 29 assists for the Greenies. His career was capped by seven goals in the 2018 State Championship game. Watch his final career goal at a Greenie here.
Coach Miles who finished his 17th year as Head Coach of Christ School Lacrosse said, "Hunter had an illustrious career as a Greenie. He was a four-year starter and had one of the greatest impacts of anyone at this program. On and off the field, he played with a chip on his shoulder.
"Christ School helped me grow into a man. I learned time management and hard work on and off the field. With Christ School's academic rigor and schedule, I learned work ethic. I truly feel prepared for the next level," said Vines. "Yet, what I will miss most about Christ School isn't the two state championships, it is the time spent in weight room and on the field when there was still snow on the ground. It was time spent with my brothers, who are I knew were with me every step of the way."
Vines will head to High Point University to continue his collegiate career. With a GPA well over four, Hunter was named a Presidential Scholar and will join his Christ School teammate, Riley Smith '17 on the team. "Playing with Riley again is so going to be so much fun. I hope we can play on the same
