Camden Moody makes lacrosse history with SPIRE Academy

SPIRE Academy is an accredited 9-12th grade college preparatory academic program that integrates athletic development and education. Located in Geneva, Ohio, the boarding school emphasizes academics, personal skills development, career exploration opportunities and major concentration. As of September, SPIRE Academy had an enrollment of 134 students and Moody never imagined boarding school as an option.

Moody and his family moved to Hood River when he was two years old. As a youngster he played baseball, basketball, soccer, and water polo, but he excelled in lacrosse. A bit undersized, Camden utilizes his speed and agility on the field. When he became old enough, he joined an indoor lacrosse team — also known as box lacrosse.

When Camden was a freshman playing on the HRV boys varsity, he was selected all-conference honorable mention. In his sophomore and junior seasons, he was a first-team selection. As a sophomore, Moody became the first in program history to make first team all-conference. He led the Eagles in goals and assists his junior year.

Such accomplishments earned him attention from college coaches. Even before enrolling at SPIRE Academy, he committed to play lacrosse at NCAA Division 2 Limestone University in 2025. Limestone is a private Christian university in North Carolina. Moody chose Limestone for several reasons. He has family in the area and has spent a lot of time in and around North Carolina. He also spoke highly about the atmosphere at a Limestone lacrosse game.

“I got to go watch one of their games last spring. … That team atmosphere and the camaraderie at that school was very, very intense. And I wanted to be part of that team. I wanted to be out there on that field playing that day. That was very appealing to me. I’m big on team chemistry and having team camaraderie,” Moody said.

Before he takes the field representing the Saints, he will make history for SPIRE Academy. Before this year, Spire had not fielded a lacrosse program. First-year head Coach James Harkey said that it’s going to be a process learning what works for the program and what they may need to adjust moving forward.

“I’m excited to see how we as a group embrace that and take lessons from week to week and game the game,” he said. “I was thrilled to get [Camden] because he has great field vision. He sees the game very well.”

Moody added to the history books when he scored the first goal of the regular season. He also scored the second and third goals.

Moody will wrap up his senior year at the boarding school and then officially enroll at Limestone this summer. Often times athletes will enroll at Spire Academy hoping for more exposure - more looks from bigger schools. Moody explained that he made it clear to Coach Harkey that his goal is to become a day-one starter at Limestone rather than wait a year before seeing the field.

“Coming to SPIRE and training hard and already having that connection with Limestone, I felt ready enough and confident in what I was going to do in college to commit,” he said.

Moody said he plans to spend the summer in Hood River and will move out to Gaffney, South Carolina in August and begin his studies in the fall.