After seven years of playing lacrosse in the Boyertown area, Boyertown senior Rachael Shaw now knows her next step. The Boyertown High senior recently signed her Letter-of-Intent to play lacrosse at Washington College next year.
Washington College is in Chestertown, Maryland, a small community, which is one of the reason Rachael like the school.
‘It’s the perfect fit for me,’ said Shaw. ‘The small town atmosphere and campus are exactly what I was looking for in a school. I believe it is the right place for me to grow both academically and on the lacrosse field. I also really liked the coaches and believe the team is the right match for me.’
The Washington College Shorewomen are part of the Centennial Conference Women’s Lacrosse League and made it to the semifinals of the league post-season tournament before being ousted with an overall record of 13-5.
Rachael first became aware of the school when her brother started school there, and is still a student there.
‘I visited it (the school) a few years ago when he was looking,’ said Shaw. ‘The more I visited, the more I fell in love with the campus and the school in general. I really like how the school is so involved in their sporting events and have lots of school spirit. The coaches and players were always very inviting and welcoming and made me feel like part of the team.’
Shaw admits that she a little nervous about playing lacrosse at the college level, but she’s also a little excited at the challenge that awaits her next year.
‘I know the level of play will be a big change but I’m looking forward to making that step,’ she said.
‘The coaches did not specifically mention my playing time as a freshman because they have the philosophy that everyone has the chance to play. They play the best players so everyone has an equal opportunity to earn their own spot regardless of age.’
Rachael stated playing lacrosse when she was in fifth grade, getting her start in the Boyertown Optimist lacrosse program. She continued playing for the Boyertown Jr. High East, then the high school team. She also played for a club team, the Dynamite, joining that team the summer before eighth grade. She’s been with the team ever since.
‘I continue to play the lacrosse because I love the game,’ said Shaw. ‘I love the fast pace and thrills that make the game very exciting and fun.’
She still has one more season of high school lacrosse to play this spring before she moves on to college. She’s part of the Boyertown program that has won 10 straight PAC-10 championships and is showing no signs of slowing down. She knows that when the time comes to part with the Boyertown lacrosse program, it will not be easy.
‘The thing I will miss most about the high school team at Boyertown is definitely my teammates,’ said Shaw. ‘Many of us have played our entire lacrosse careers together and that is a key aspect in our success on the field. I can’t imagine coming this far without them.’