On November 8, senior Reese Wallich signed her National Letter of Intent to play Division I women’s lacrosse at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).

Wallich received offers from over 15 colleges and universities, but when she stepped foot onto the campus of Virginia Tech, she knew she had found the team she wanted to join.

“I knew I wanted to play college lacrosse since I was little, and once I toured a couple [of] schools, I just kind of knew once I got there that [Virginia Tech] was the one that I thought fit me best,” said Wallich.

Wallich has played lacrosse for Linganore’s varsity team for all four years of her high school athletic career. Her coach, Dean Coccia, is extremely supportive and grateful that she has been a part of the team.

“Fundamentally Reese is solid in everything…she’s a very passionate player, and that is contagious to the team,” said Coccia. 

Wallich has been playing lacrosse for over 13 years. She began playing when she was 4 years old, which makes her lacrosse knowledge extensive. Coccia recognized this when he first began coaching her, which is why he often creates game strategies around her skills.

“Reese is an extremely talented lacrosse player who’s been playing lacrosse for a very, very long time. When you’re a coach and you take over a program, you look for people to build offenses around, and Reese is that person,” said Coccia. 

Besides playing on the Linganore team, Wallich also plays for Heros Tournament Lacrosse Club, an elite lacrosse program based in Howard County. Some of Wallich’s teammates from the Heros Green Team will also be playing at Virginia Tech next year.

“There’s two other girls from my club team going there [Virginia Tech], so that’s really exciting to have two people that I already know,” said Wallich.

In addition to her achievements within the Linganore program, Wallich was given All-County recognition in the Frederick News Post for multiple years in a row and was named Girl’s Lacrosse Attacker of the Year in Frederick County during last year’s season.

Overall, her coach believes that Virginia Tech is getting a fierce competitor both on and off the field.

“Reese’s competitiveness and her drive for success will not only translate on the lacrosse field, but definitely in life. When I think about Reese, [I think about the] goal setting that she goes through without being provoked…I think that’s going to translate to the college game and to life because she’s such a driven person,” said Coccia.