The Class of 2027 has been buzzing with recent athletic commitments to various Division I programs. Junior student-athletes spent their summers sending countless emails and attending camps, until finally reaching the goal they had been working toward since childhood. What does it mean when we see players announcing their commitments to Virginia, Stanford, and so much more to become a part of the top two percent of student-athletes in the country? Let’s have them tell you firsthand.

Kat Dykes ‘27: University of Virginia 

Playing competitively since 1st grade, Dykes has made a name for herself in the lacrosse world. Lax has taught her how to talk to new people, have good time management skills, and compartmentalize tasks so that she can split her energy efficiently between school and sports. She was inspired to start playing lacrosse by a close family friend and fell in love with the game at a very young age. Her experience and athleticism are evident on the field, where she uses the leadership skills she’s built over the years to lead her team to victory, both on her club team at STEPS and on the SHP Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse team. Her impact doesn’t go unnoticed, as evidenced by her recognition as a consistent starter, her selection as a First Team All-League player both her freshman and sophomore years, and her designation as a USA Lacrosse 19 All-West Team member. Dykes’ hard work and leadership have positioned her to make an immediate impact at UVA. When describing what it means to be committed, she disproved some widely-held misconceptions about it, mentioning that it is still important for committed athletes to keep their grades up and work hard in school. Dykes is super excited to take her talents to UVA, which she commends for their “great academics that balance with sports,” and competitive lacrosse. Dykes’ journey is just getting started, and UVA is the perfect next step.

Maggie Goldstein ‘27: Stanford University

It probably comes as a surprise that Goldstein wasn’t very interested in playing lacrosse until middle school, but she is going on to play at one of the most prestigious lacrosse programs in the country. Goldstein began playing lacrosse seriously in 6th grade after being convinced by a family friend to give it a real chance. She was close to quitting before she joined STEPS, which “changed everything for [her]. The atmosphere, the level of the players/competition, and [her] teammates” all played a huge role in transforming lacrosse from a begrudging pastime to a real passion. Her recruitment journey with Stanford is a testament to how things often come full circle. Being surrounded by the school her whole life–her parents both went there, it’s nearby, etc–Goldstein was dead set on starting her next chapter on the East Coast when it came time, even before considering playing lacrosse in college. Although recruitment for lacrosse doesn’t quite start until the fall of your sophomore year and the summer following, Goldstein has been attending Stanford camps for as long as she can remember, and talked about the relationship she’s been able to build with the coaches over the years. That said, Stanford wasn’t on her list of top three schools this past summer, until a last-minute decision to attend a camp this past August, right before the contact period opened on September 1, and Stanford reached out at midnight. She encourages other SHP student-athletes going through recruitment to “go where you’re most wanted,” and to consider all factors before making their decision. Goldstein is both a hardworking player and student who always pushes herself to get better and reach her goal of being an impact player in college.

Max Wong ‘27: Dartmouth College

Although Wong didn’t seriously consider taking lacrosse to the college level until around eighth grade, one thing he did know for sure during his recruiting process was that Dartmouth was going to be the best fit for him. Playing lacrosse since 2nd grade, the Attack from ADVNC has received many commendations, with a recent one being 1st Team All-League his sophomore year playing Varsity Lax at SHP. He broke down the lax recruiting process for those who might not know its ins and outs. Wong reiterated the importance of the summer before junior year for recruitment, mentioning that he thinks he played in 9 or 10 tournaments out on the East Coast to get looks from colleges going into September 1, which is the start of the communication period from college coaches. There are a few exceptions, with institutions like the Naval Academy and Air Force that could reach out starting July 1, but it was ultimately at Dartmouth where Wong “got that feeling that they really cared.” “It just felt right,” he said, reiterating the importance of choosing a school where you feel most comfortable. He said the coaching staff was very kind and welcoming, which ended up playing a big role in his decision to choose Dartmouth. As he joins the Big Green, Wong is ready to take on the next level both on and off the field.

Nora Still ‘27: Dartmouth College 

If you had told Still in seventh grade that she’d be committed to a top-25 lacrosse program four and a half years later, she might not have believed you. The Attacker for STEPS first found lacrosse after needing a switch from her current sport at the time, soccer, and it soon became her “favorite thing ever.” Still recalls realizing that playing lacrosse in college could become a serious opportunity around the time she was about to enter high school, saying that the amount of travel she already found herself doing just made looking at lacrosse in her future “make sense.” She went through the recruiting process this past summer as well, entering it with an open mind and keeping all possibilities open. She recounted the way she felt when she went to a camp at Dartmouth, that she got the feeling that she was “just supposed to be there.” Still realizes that the process of finding a place for oneself goes differently for every student-athlete. With that said, the uniqueness of the school traditions, competitiveness of the team, and environmental resemblance to summers in Tahoe made Dartmouth the obvious choice for Still. It was “exactly everything [she] wanted in a school.” Still has high goals set for the future, both in college and in her journey before she gets there, always working to make an impact wherever she can. “You love the sport when you make an impact, and you work hard to make an impact because you love the sport.” There’s not a doubt in my mind that Still will continue to demonstrate her tenacity and grit at Dartmouth.

David Sala ‘27: Bucknell University

Surrounded by lacrosse his whole life, it’s not a surprise that Sala found himself playing lacrosse at only three years old. Sala looked up to his dad and uncle, who had both played Division I lacrosse, so he too aspired to play for a Division I lacrosse school. Playing defensive midfield for both ADVNC and West Coast Starz Gold, Sala first realized he was “on track to reach [his] goal” starting in middle school, when the team began cutting down roster sizes to form competitive teams with players that had a serious chance of getting recruited to play lacrosse in college. He recalled that playing well on those highly competitive teams “boosted [his] confidence,” and ultimately played a big role in helping him develop the skills and mindset necessary to reach his goal. Sala was lucky enough to talk to several different coaching staffs and visit a few schools, but asserts that the recruiting process “is not easy.” He was drawn to Bucknell for its emphasis on balance and well-roundedness, whereas other schools often pitched one or two attractive traits, such as a specific program or their sports facilities. The coaching staff at Bucknell emphasized the school’s academic competitiveness hand-in-hand with competing in one of the highest leagues in D1. “They push their players as hard as they can,” yet at the same time, ensure that they have a good social life balance. Sala mentioned he could “sense the community” on the team, which was very inclusive. “It felt like home,” he said, and the togetherness reminded him of how it felt to play Varsity Lacrosse at SHP. Sala has high aspirations for his tenure at Bucknell, aiming to be the team captain–he recognizes the responsibility and honor it would be to play a role in fostering that tight-knit community. Sala reminds SHP student-athletes to remember how lucky they are to be in these positions and advises them to make long-term decisions that take into account not only the next four years, but also their future.