On February 3, 2016, Emma Roerty officially committed to play lacrosse for the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point. She signed her letter of intent on National Signing Day, along with 11 other athletes who will be playing college sports at next year.

Roerty has been playing lacrosse since she was 8.

She is a little nervous about West Point because the experience is new, but, Roerty added, she will know some of the girls her new team will be playing against, so there will be some familiar faces.

Roerty is one of three Linganore students who have committed to play sports at West Point next year, along with Daniel Ross (lacrosse) and Tyler Fleagle (football).

She says that when it comes to balancing athletics and academics, “There will be help with that, because everyone has to play at least one sport.” West Point requires all cadets to participate in competitive athletics during their time at the academy.

Roerty decided to attend West Point after visiting the school.

“I was considering a lot of schools,” Roerty said.  She was looking at Princeton and American University, “but West Point is just a special place. It’s so beautiful, and there’s so much history.”

John Roerty, Roerty’s father, said, “she did almost all of the work” when it came to applying. “It’s very exciting, but also nerve-wracking” that she is leaving for college.

Roerty is considering a number of different majors, including international relations or engineering. After college, she will serve five years of active duty service (required of West Point graduates) and is interested in a career in intelligence or cyber-security.

At the signing ceremony, Coach Rick Conner said, “Emma is such a great inspiration to her class and to her team.”