Anna Karoly '19 Recruiting Profile

    For as long as I can remember, I have always had a sense of drive, a want to be the best when I play, a want to win,  a want make my teammates, peers, and people in general smile... This one characteristic about me has brought me to where I stand today.  After playing a game, running a race, swimming against other people, we win some and lose some, but winning isn't what defines the game- In my eyes, I know that our team has truly won after we have played the hardest and the best that we have ever played before. It's when I give it my absolute all and know that I made others and myself proud of that day, that is when I know that we/I have won.  Knowing this is what makes me happy about the game. The love for the sport is there- the chase. I love the competition. To be honest, I get fired up when someone becomes real rough, I love the whole sensation of competition on the field. Even when I was little, I have always been playing two sports, whether it was being keeper for soccer or a sprinter in swimming, my coaches would always be frustrated with me when I was still in elementary/Middle school. I know now, but I never understood why-this was years ago- but they would always tell me I needed to play harder, push harder and go faster than everyone else was. I thought that my coaches were just being coaches, but they would tell me that the reason why they were always harder on me than my teammates was because they knew I could accomplish more than most. Me being me, I saw this humbly, never thought too much of the constant words said. My old swim coach would say to me that I have much potential and "I'm barely scratching the top of the ice." He told my mom, that when I race, I "never let someone finish before her-especially if they are right next to her and if she want's it, she'll achieve it." That explains what I meant by the drive to be the best on my team, and what I mean by "the chase." I am not playing the sport of lacrosse to become 'kinda' good, I don't plan on 'kinda' wanting it. People have stopped to ask me how I could know the sport so well to only be playing for a year and a half, and all I say is that I practice-a lot. I'm always trying to get out to hit the wall even if it means I have to make time from my day. I achieved my first offer, a DII school just last week, and it just tells me that I'm doing something right, my hard work and hours put in is truly impacting my game play. Not many know that I work out 11 hours per week on a normal basis. Three days a week, I have swim practice at 5:00 a.m. and leave straight to Crossfit. Those 11 hours don't include the weekend nor time spent practicing wall ball.  When I play, I'm always having fun. When I smile, it creates a chain reaction and then other people smile, I love when it happens because usually everyone plays well when they are happy. When I play, I know what is currently going on at all times, I know where the ball is, where it is soon to be, and I constantly keep a bobble head to know what my next step is. I love being fast, and I have found to somewhat stronger than most. I aspire to be a phenomenal player, all-around, on and off the field. I strive to become the best, and I am very willing to learn, I'm a very coachable athlete-and I know that because I love taking feed from coaches and learning how to fix the mistake/problem, committing to the right way on how to deliver the act. Many of the girls that I have met or played with have been playing for five to seven years, and I never become intimidated by the fact because that is not what defines a good player. Although, because I haven't been playing for that long, I do not have as much experience-but that doesn't stop me from doing my best to bypass the higher level of play that exists. I also have to work and study harder than most of my classmates. I always make sure that I am understanding the given material and I know that school always comes first. 

    I am not the best out there, and I know that- but I strive to be. I have a ton of fun playing and I love the feel for the game.  I know that I can achieve my goals of playing for a good school with help along the way.  The coach that is interested in me is always emailing, texting me that I am welcome to come hang out with the current team. If he is very interested in me coming to play for him, then I know that I have something in me.