Dawson Bienz '20 Recruiting Profile

Coach-able, passionate, and relentless are words often used to describe me by my coaches. Dedicated, leader, and successful have been descriptive words used by my teachers. With a 4.9 GPA going into my Senior year (taking all honors classes) and having lead my Varsity lacrosse team for the past three years in scoring (this year securing a state Championship), I feel my academic and athletic passions have become one. My high school motto has been.... "You must make the grade in the classroom before you make the grade on the field." Maintaining focus on my academics while playing Varsity lacrosse has positioned me to become both a successful athlete and scholar.

After trying many sports as a kid, I found lacrosse to be the one sport I couldn’t live without. With my lacrosse stick as an extension of my arm, our backyard soon became a lax yard. Determined as a 6^th grader to secure my spot on the field, I spent one summer using my left hand for drills. My reward was a starting position on our 8^th grade team as a lefty attackman and earned the leading scorer title. It was a wise decision as I can now play all attack positions because I no longer have a dominate hand.

Over the past three years, it has become clear to me that my college years would not be complete without lacrosse. I pride myself in having the lacrosse IQ that allows my team to succeed. In Arizona, I have been the leading scorer for D2 the past two years, maintaining a 50% shot percentage. In fact, I led the state in goals and points for 2019 and including the 2019 All Star Game, had a 100 point season! I broke the all-time scoring record and points record this year for our lacrosse program, which was an incredible honor. As a freshman, I was 2^{nd in} state and I have the distinction of being the only player in Arizona to play a full season of high school lacrosse as an 8^th grader. I was able to achieve this because of my academic status. I took math at our high school and was dual enrolled in both middle school and high school. In 8^thgrade, I was both a starter and leading scorer for team. Outside of high school lacrosse, I have continued to work on my skills by participating in camps (Rhino, 3D Rising, STX Rising, High Rollers, and Jake Reed Nike Blue Chip) and travel teams including Brady's Bunch National, Team 12 National, and Rhino National. The opportunities lacrosse has provided me so far have been amazing and I have enjoyed traveling the US and playing with and against the best 2020 players in the US. My dream is to combine playing college lacrosse with pursuing my academic endeavors. I strive to improve with every practice and want both a coaching staff and team that will allow me to grow as a player and teammate, and better myself as an overall athlete.

I know lacrosse will ALWAYS be a part of my life. Where I land for my college years will be key for my future. I have continued to take honors classes and participate in dual enrollment so I will enter college with the freedom to take a lighter coarse load allowing time for lacrosse. My planning will allow for a better balance between student and athlete and open the doors for success in both.

I thank you for your time and look forward to finding the perfect equation for my lacrosse and academic future.