Part One (Sept. 2008) Free Fall? | Peer Review: Shannon Smith
Part Two (Oct. 2008): Passport to Campus | Peer Review: Gordie Wells
Part Three (Nov. 2008): Too Vested in Verbals? | Peer Review: Lily Ricci
Part Four (Dec. 2008): Piece of the Pie | Peer Review: Ilyssa Meyer
Part Five (Feb. 2009): Best Foot Forward
Part Six (March 2009): Camp Stories | Peer Review: What Camp Best Fits Me?
Part Seven (April 2009): Be True to Your School?
Part Eight (May 2009): Transfer of Power | Peer Review: Q&A with an Early Commit
Part Nine (October 2009): Are You the Diamond in the Rough? | Think D-III
Part Ten (November 2009): Me Time | Peer Review: Kayleigh Hynes

Recruiting is a topic on which families, prospects, coaches and others expend considerable resources, time and emotion. Lacrosse Magazine will delve into many of the sub-topics involved in a series of articles, augmented by personal stories from young men and women that have recently completed or are in the midst of the recruiting process.

Part Ten of the series provides some pregame prep for high school juniors and sophomores engaging in the process. This article appears in the November issue of LM. Don't get the mag? Join US Lacrosse and its 300,000-plus members today to start your monthly subscription.

Recruiting U: Peer Review with Kayleigh Hynes

I grew up in Albany, N.Y., where lacrosse is a very popular sport.

Before my senior year of high school, my family and I moved to Brentwood, Tenn., and I joined the Ravenwood lacrosse team. It was a big adjustment going from somewhere that lacrosse was one of the main sports, to a place where it was sanctioned as a club team. The community’s emphasis on lacrosse wasn’t as prevalent as it was up north, but everyone I talked to was really interested to see the game played and become more knowledgeable. With the help of my teammates and coaches, I was able to make All-Region, All-State, and All-American my final year of high school. I was contacted by various schools, but the University of Louisville stuck out the most. When I came to campus, I was blown away by the facilities, the coaches and, most of all, the girls on the team — everything seemed like a great fit.

Ever since I was little, I have dreamed of playing Division I lacrosse. I had heard stories from my friends telling me about their experience playing at such a high level, so I knew that it was going to be a challenge. Time management was the biggest adjustment for me, because you spend so much time on the field, at lifting and in meetings that lacrosse becomes your life. And it’s hard to fit schoolwork and social activities into the mix. It’s a lot different from high school, but I love it. My best friends are on this team, and with the amount of time we spend together on and off the field, they feel more like family.

College lacrosse is a huge change from high school. In high school you have the select group of standout players who help carry the team, but in college everyone is good. And everyone on your team expects you to play your hardest each and every day. It’s important to hold yourself and your teammates accountable to strive to be the best. It ends up that everything you do on the field is for your team, not you as an individual.

I haven’t declared a major yet, but I’m leaning toward a major in sports administration. I’m not sure what I want to be when or if I ever grow up, but, no matter what I would like to coach youth lacrosse in areas of the country that don’t have the opportunities for good coaching that I have had. Thanks to my parents driving me to what felt like every tournament, every weekend I was able to fulfill my childhood dream.

Some advice that I’d like to give high school players is, start early. Look as many places as you can as soon as you can. It’s important to get yourself out there as much as possible so that you are able to go to the school that’s perfect for you, especially if you live in a location that’s not as well known for lacrosse. Also the most important thing is to make sure that you love the team, they are going to be your best friends that you stay in touch with forever.

Always take a good look at the coaching staff, because they will ultimately affect the style and play of the team. Their knowledge of the game is key to the future success of your team. At the University of Louisville, Kellie Young, Lisa Staedt, and Matt Lawicki are always looking for new ways to better the program, making us students of the game. In our first NCAA year, we were able to make it to the Big East tournament, and they are constantly challenging us to overcome adversity and take our program to the next level, not to dwell on past accomplishments.

— Kayleigh Hynes is a sophomore attacker at the University of Louisville.