On Wednesday, February 4, senior Brynn Groves signed a National Letter of Intent to Shippensburg University, promising to play lacrosse there with their program after she graduates in the spring.
Groves was introduced to Shippensburg when they reached out to her. She noticed how close the school was to home and decided to tour the school. She fell in love with it and from there decided that she was going to go there after she graduated.
“I went on a visit … I knew that that was the school I wanted to go to.” Groves said.
Lacrosse has always been big for Groves since her father, Kelly Groves, is a coach himself and her brother also played. She started by playing recreationally for LOUYAA Tribe Lacrosse, then she began playing with Renegades Lacrosse Club until she joined the Linganore High School team. She has participated in the sport for 12 years but it has always been a big part of her life even before that.
“My brother played [lacrosse] … and I thought it was interesting so I wanted to play too,” said Groves.
According to Groves, the Linganore lacrosse program prepared her well for college sports. She believes the coaches work extremely hard to get the athletes ready for what they will have to do when they move up, which makes it easier for them to adjust to the college world.
“We have practice everyday,” Groves said, “we lift, we condition, just things like that that you’re getting ready and experiencing … so that we’re ready for that college experience.”
Many athletes find it difficult to manage both academics and athletics without falling behind in either one, and Groves’ father, Kelly Groves, pointed out that it is important to remember that she is a student athlete, not an athlete student. Fortunately, Brynn was able to find this balance, and she did very well academically.
“When you play sports, you don’t get a lot of free time.” Groves said, “As soon as I get home from school, if I don’t have practice, I’m doing homework … and everything can get done, as long as you put in the work and put in the time to get it done.”
Groves’ 12 years of lacrosse have brought her many memories, but two in particular stick out as her favorites. One of these is from when Linganore’s lacrosse team won the Central Maryland Conference Large School title against Urbana High in her sophomore year. The other from when Groves and her varsity lacrosse team managed to barely beat the Oakdale team by one point in the Regional Final playoff game last year.
“It was just really big for us that we showed up and we played, because our rivalry with Urbana is pretty big.” Groves said, “And then [with] Oakdale, we actually lost to them in the regular season … then to come back in regionals, the playoffs, and beat them was really, really exciting.”
Groves will graduate in the spring and move on with an academic scholarship with Shippensburg, however she will get money for her athletics once she gets further into her program. After she finishes college though, she doesn’t plan to play her sport professionally like many athletes do.
“After college, I plan to go to chiropractic school and become a chiropractor,” Groves said.
Groves is praised as a great player by both her coach, Coach Dean Coccia, and the Assistant Athletic Director, Joe Hawkins. Hawkins says she is a very hard worker, makes sure to put her all into everything on the field and holds herself to a very high standard.
“I’m really excited for Brynn to be able to continue playing lacrosse in college, because she is such a great player and such a nice person.” Hawkins said, “It’s great that she’ll be able to continue her sport.”
Coccia echoed this statement. With this new opportunity to play at a higher level, he believes she will be able to continue excelling in her sport.
“I have no doubt that Brynn’s leadership and competitiveness and commitment will be a major asset to shift the Shippensburg Raiders’ lacrosse program.” Coach Dean said, “We’re incredibly proud of you Brynn, and excited to watch your next chapters, Congratulations.”
Groves also shared advice for the many other young athletes who plan to take a similar path for their lives and post-highschool career as the one that Groves is taking.
“Just stay confident and trust your abilities,” Groves said, “You can do anything that you put your mind to, as long as you stay on top of your studies … just make sure you’re putting in the work.”
