13-05-2025
Hometown Hero – Orla Howlett, Classical
PROVIDENCE, RI (WPRI) — This week's Cardi's Furniture & Mattresses Hometown Sports Hero is Orla Howlett.
A reigning 2nd Team All-State pick, Howlett has piled up 49 goals in 8 games for Classical with 11 assists, putting her on pace to pass the 102 points she tallied as a Junior. Howlett with 250 career goals in three seasons for the 7-3 Purple.
'The biggest thing with her is not necessarily her skills, it's her being a leader and becoming a better team player,' said Classical Head Coach Steven Jackson. 'And progressing through that and she's shown that and has been willing to work hard to get to that point.'
'This year has been the best it's ever been,' Howlett said. 'I think our team is super strong overall. We've got great athletes all over. Amazing performance. Everyone wants to play hard and do their best.'
Orla's success is not limited to high school. She's also stood out at the Junior and Senior levels for the Irish National Team.
'My love for the lacrosse just grew tremendously during that time,' Howlett said. 'In March we went to the European Championships and now we're going to the World Games this Summer. So, I think just all of that just built up my whole love for Lacrosse. I could never do anything else.'
Howlett is planning to carry her winning ways to Kingston. She'll play Division I Lacrosse at URI next Spring. The connections she made with Head Coach Jenna Slowey and her Assistant, Riley Smith, and the chance to shine for a new program, too good to pass up.
'I just fell in love with URI. It's been such an amazing program,' Howlett said. 'They are a building program too, so I think just being a part of that is the best thing. I love watching teams grow. I think it's going to be a really good place for me.'
'She has the potential of becoming a very, very excellent lacrosse player and she's going to a brand-new program,' Jackson said. 'What's better than that. Starting on the ground floor and I think she's going to do tremendously.'
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