Samantha Thomas has always known that she wanted to stick with lacrosse through high school and college, and in September, Thomas will be trading in her Haldane regalia for a Southern Connecticut State University jersey. She isn’t the only one moving to that level; her teammate, Kayla Ruggiero, will be trading hers in for one from Iona University, and Cross Country Athlete Owen Powers will run for Brandeis University.
Juggling school with extracurriculars is difficult for all students, but especially for those who hope to play in college. “I had always spent my time wisely, being able to be a kid, but also take care of homework and do extra practice for sports,” replied Thomas when asked if she faced challenges balancing high school academics and lacrosse.
Many kids grow up dreaming of playing at a Division I college, but Thomas has a different take on that. Although she got offers from schools of multiple division levels, ultimately she chose a Division II school, saying that, “Division I isn’t always the answer to be the best. Balance is the most important thing, and to know what is best for you.” Jeffery Sniffen, a sixth-grade history teacher and the Assistant Varsity Football Coach at Haldane, echoed this idea. “It’s not just picking the school for the sake of it being Division I or the sake of it being a school that people know, but picking the school that’s going to be the right fit for you.”
After visiting SCSU, Thomas knew it was the right place for her, because of the sense of belonging she felt while there. “I knew I wanted a team to mean family, and I know college teams create a sense of belonging and home,” said Thomas. After interviewing Thomas, one thing was clear: she would stay grounded in her sense of family and belonging from Cold Spring at SCSU. Her team will be, “A place to turn when I’m away from my parents, finding my independence in college.”
