Ellery Zink joined our family in March and immediately connected with the girls on the HS team.  Although new to lacrosse, Ellery showed great enthusiasm for the game.  She will be missed by all but not forgotten.  Her family has shared with us that lacrosse and the friendships that she had made brought her great joy

“Ellery Zink came to Empire in the spring of 2021 as a new rec player. She told her mom ‘I really want to try lacrosse’ and made the 45 min drive from Brevard each day for practices. It was clear from the beginning she had a natural ability for the game, and when invited to join the summer travel team, she jumped at the chance. She was welcomed into the fold immediately by her teammates, and it was easy to see she had found a home at Empire lacrosse.  The coaching staff loved her eagerness to learn and positive attitude, and during the travel season she stepped up and held her own in the position, making great memories with her teammates on and off the field.  We are all deeply saddened that her time with us was short, but Empire is family and we grieve along with her family and her community.  She will be missed and will always have a place in our hearts.”

-Coach Becky and Coach Mel

Ellery’s family has asked us to set up a Memorial Scholarship fund in her name.  This fund will benefit any new girls looking to play lacrosse but may not have the means to pay for registration as well as the other costs associated with the sport of lacrosse.

If you would like to donate to this Scholarship Fund, please use our Venmo Account @Asheville-Empire and be sure to indicate that you are donating in Ellery’s memory.

We hope to keep Ellery’s spirit alive with this Memorial Scholarship and hope you will do the same with your contributions.

“I got this!”

-Ellery Zink