Committing to athletics

It’s a major decision to continue with athletics in college. Haven athletes are committing to year-round practices, challenging schedules, and the pursuit of excellence in their sport.

At the annual signing day on May 15, we caught up with just a few of the seniors who will pursue their sport at the next level.

David Hagan ‘23

Q: What made you choose the college that you’re attending?

“Well, it’s a bunch of factors going through the recruiting process. I’m looking at schools that both are an academic fit and an athletic fit and Gettysburg was both.”

Q: What’s been one of the most memorable parts of your high school athletics career?

“I definitely think just all the practices. Just going out because we practice late we practice from seven o’clock to nine o’clock at night, just going out at night having fun when there’s nothing else going on. It’s probably the most memorable part all the team bonding like team breakfast, team dinner is pretty fun.”

Q: What are you looking forward to most in college athletics?

“I really think competing. Gettysburg has a good lacrosse team and I just want to be part of like a winning program. And I think it would be super fun to go far and the regular season and the playoffs.”

Q: What advice do you have for underclassmen who might be considering playing college sports?

“I guess just work hard. I think like no matter where you play, what you’re playing, it’s an accomplishment to play in college. And cherish that and like, it’s all in your hands to get there. It just takes hard work and dedication.”

Q: Anyone you’d like to shout-out or thank?

“Probably Tate Gorman. In fourth grade he got me into lacrosse and now once I started playing, I haven’t looked back since. Thank you.”

Q: What made you choose the college that you’re attending?

“When I visited I really liked the campus and I got to watch practice and like interact with the team and I liked the teammates, you know, feel like we would have a good vibe.”

Q: What’s been one of the most memorable parts of your high school athletics career?

“In all honesty, we went through a lot of ups and downs, but probably my sophomore year. We had COVID make a lot of instances where we had to stop playing and stuff like that, but we always stayed together. So probably the COVID year.”

Q: What are you looking forward to most in college athletics?

“Keep working hard and keep developing my work ethic.”

Q: What advice do you have for underclassmen who might be considering playing college sports?

“Keep working hard. You know, like, get more hours in than your competition.”

Q: Anyone you’d like to shout-out or thank?

“Shout out Haney, my guy.”

Q: What made you choose the college that you’re attending?

“I really just liked the coach and the location of the school and what they offer. I’m thinking about majoring in computer science and they have a really good computer science program there. So yeah, just the team as well. The players on the team, they all seem like cool guys, and the coach is a really nice guy.”

Q: What’s been one of the most memorable parts of your high school athletics career?

“Probably just playing with my friends every day out on the turf. You know, just spending that much time together, you get to make a lot of memories. So I’m probably just never going forget just playing with them every day. Whether it be a game or a practice under the lights, under the sun. That’s probably what it is—practices and games.”

Q: What are you looking forward to most in college athletics?

“I’m excited to meet new teammates, meet new people in new areas, and obviously just play competitive sports. It’s going to be fun at the next level.

Q: What advice do you have for underclassmen who might be considering playing college sports?

“Just keep working. You know, focus on you. Don’t worry about where other people are, what they’re doing, focus on you. Keep those blinders on and just head down and grind, you know?”

Q: Anyone you’d like to shout-out or thank?

“Probably my parents and my teammates, especially Charles Bogert—you know, he’s been along with me the whole time. My parents have always been there for me, whether it be going to practices or going to games.”

Q: What made you choose the college that you’re attending?

“Initially, it was just for academics. I didn’t really want to play in college when I first started thinking about it. But after this season, I was really really adamant about playing in college once the opportunity showed itself. So throughout the recruiting process, only a couple of schools opened up to me and they weren’t at the top of my list. But once my top school academically opened up as an option, that’s the one I ended up choosing.”

Q: What’s been one of the most memorable parts of your high school athletics career?

“Definitely this season as a senior. My experience hasn’t been the best in my previous years, because of my lack of skill. And the figures I had really didn’t help me as much. But as a senior, I was really helpful for the younger girls who aren’t as advanced, skill-wise, and I really enjoyed being a mentor for anybody on the team.”

Q: What are you looking forward to most in college athletics?

“Competing at a higher level. I always love a challenge and I love being able to be challenged by other people. So playing at the division two level will definitely provide that.”

Q: What advice do you have for underclassmen who might be considering playing college sports?

“Don’t be discouraged by your lack of skill. I was not good at playing volleyball up until like, maybe six months ago. And always keep your options open. Like I got started really late in the recruiting process. Don’t completely close yourself off. Even if you don’t really want to do it, you should definitely reach out to the coaches of the schools you may be attending or applying to, so you can have that option.

Q: Anyone you’d like to shout-out or thank?

“Definitely my mom. She was extremely adamant about me going for what I wanted, especially after so many injuries that I had. So she pushed me to be a better person. My coach who put me out there in the like, pile of names that coaches had, because she was extremely influential and me playing in college, and my sister because I play for her, I play for myself and I really, really want to be that figure that she can hold in her mind to look up to.”*