With MHS seniors now hearing back from colleges seemingly everyday, two students committing to colleges wouldn’t seem that strange. However, two weeks ago the acceptance letters weren’t as common, and the two students accepted were Bailey Hurst, MHS Junior, to Bucknell University and Catherine Crowley, MHS Sophomore, to Loyola University. Although a shock to some, the majority of the student body was not surprised due to the girl’s great success in soccer (BH) and lacrosse (CC). However, with such early commits, many are curious about their experiences, so we asked them some questions to find out more.
MDO: How/ what was your experience with the recruiting process?
BH: I had a good experience with my recruiting process. It wasn’t a quick an easy process but it’s a rewarding one when you finally commit to a school that you really wanted to attend.
CC: My experience with the recruiting process was far from easy. Lacrosse recruiting has gotten to the point where some people know where they’re going to college before they play a high school lacrosse game. Freshman year was when I first started to really get into the recruiting process. The most difficult part of the recruiting process, for me, was that I never had any free time. I was back and forth from state to state, at tournaments, camps, showcases, prospect days, etc., just to put myself out there to these schools. I attended a Loyola lacrosse clinic and absolutely fell in love with the coaches. I was fortunate enough to get their attention and they really scouted me the most during my fall tournaments. Once the season was over, the coaches had really liked what they saw in me. From then on everything escalated, and after seeing the campus, meeting the team, and just getting the feel of the school, my recruiting process ended when I made a decision to play lacrosse at Loyola.
MDO: What are your favorite parts of your college besides the sports aspect?
BH: My favorite part of Bucknell outside of soccer is the atmosphere the campus has and how much it has to offer academically. I like the idea that I can get a very good education at a school that has a variety of different things to offer.
CC: I remember always having at least one negative thing to say about every college visit I went on, but Loyola was different than all the rest. Loyola was the only school I came out of the visit saying, “This is without a doubt the school I want to go to”. Putting the lacrosse aspect aside, Loyola is the ideal college in my eyes. The first time I walked through the center of campus I froze because it was so beautiful. The fact that it’s not too big but not too small was really a huge factor when making my decision. My favorite part of Loyola is definitely the chapel, which is located in the center of the campus. I have always wanted to attend a Catholic college because religion is a major part of my life. Also, the fact that Loyola is only 3 hours away is perfect. I’d love for my family to come to some of my games and the close distance would make this possible. There wasn’t exactly one specific thing that drew me to Loyola, but it was the fact that each individual part of the school was perfect, making everything fall into place.
MDO: What were the feelings after committing?
BH: I was so happy after I committed because Bucknell was my top choice. It was a relief and accomplishment to find out that I would be able to go to such a prestigious school. I never really thought about the fact that I know where I’m going before most seniors. I think that’s because in a way it still doesn’t feel real, I’m still in shock. But I know that it definitely makes school a little less stressful and I can focus on doing well for myself without the added pressure or stress.
CC: After making my verbal commitment to play lacrosse at Loyola, I had an array of feelings. At first, I was obviously extremely happy and couldn’t believe what had just happened. This happiness led to gratitude, which I expressed amongst my parents, coaches, teammates and everyone else who helped me get to where I am. Then, I sort of went into shock. I still don’t feel like it’s real right now. Knowing where I am going to school before most seniors is definitely weird to think about.
MDO: Could you have imagined your life without playing lacrosse/soccer in college?
BH: I don’t think that I could imagine my life without playing soccer in college because it’s something I love to do. It has also taught me so many important things I can use later in my life like time management and the rewards of hard work. Without certain life lessons I have learned from soccer, I do not think I would have fully understood the value of hard work and accomplishing long-term goals.
CC: To be honest, I could not have imagined my life without playing lacrosse, let alone any sport, in college. I’ve been playing sports for as long as I can remember and lacrosse was always one of them. As I progressed into middle school, I joined a highly competitive club team, which made me become more serious about the game and taking it to the next level. I really couldn’t see myself going to college and not playing lacrosse because it’s what I love to do. If you love to do something why not do it for four more years after high school?