For many athletes, the path to focusing on college athletics and the pursuit of this goal starts early, often before they even reach middle school; however, for senior Vanessa Walchli, this journey looked a little different.
Walchli, the varsity girls lacrosse goalkeeper, committed to play Division III lacrosse at Endicott College, a milestone that was achieved after much resilience and perseverance— proving that even with a late start you can finish strong.
Walchli’s athletic story began with gymnastics at 3 years old, but stopped competing as sports took a toll on her body and led her to consider other sports instead.
“I broke almost every finger and toe and had so many small injuries,” Walchli said.
She saw the need for change and this opportunity came in her eighth grade, when she picked up a lacrosse stick for the first time. Though, it wasn’t until her freshman year when she found her true passion in the sport once playing as goalie.
“My coach told me he wanted to put me in goal, and I was totally OK with it,” Walchli said regarding how she made the shift from a defensive player to finding her place between the pipes.
Starting later than many of the other players proved to be a challenge but also pushed her to work even harder than the rest.
“Yes, 100% I felt behind. But what I’ve learned is that the amount of time you have played means nothing if you work ten times harder,” she said.
This mentality of determination and hard work carried her through the daunting process of college recruiting. For lacrosse, it often requires players to advocate for themselves, unlike other more streamlined sports where games are heavily scouted and coaches connect regularly with athletes directly through their schools.
“The recruiting process was super stressful and difficult because it’s not like football— you have to do it all by yourself,” Walchli said.
After months of conversation with coaches, several emails, highlight reels, practices and tenacity, Walchli found her perfect fit in Endicott College, where she will have a coach with just as high energy as she does.
While eager for what’s next, Walchli continues to train long hours and dedicate herself to the sport in order to be ready to take on collegiate level lacrosse and be the best goalie, and teammate, she can be.
From breaking bones in gymnastics to breaking through in lacrosse, Walchli’s journey proves that success in sports isn’t about how early you start, but instead how hard you are willing to work.
Walchli looks forward to the next four years she will spend at Endicott College, where her dreams of further pursuing her athletic career at the collegiate level will come true. “I’m excited to have friends right when I get to school and to be able to train with girls that are great at this sport,” she said. (Photo/ @v_laxgoalie)
