Annabelle Letts (12) had always participated in sports throughout her childhood, but none of them really stuck until she tried lacrosse in eighth grade. There was something different about it.
“It was just a sport that I loved,” Letts said. “I connected with it immediately. It was so fun and I was so passionate.”
Since then, her love for lacrosse has only grown. As soon as she got the idea of college lacrosse in her head, there was no changing her mind.
“I got better, I played travel ball, and I went to all these different tournaments,” Letts said. “And it just hit me, like, ‘Oh, I can really do this.’”
Letts got multiple offers from different teams but after visiting each school and meeting her potential coaches and teammates, she chose Maryville University in Missouri.
“Everyone was so nice and welcoming,” Letts said. “The team was competitive and it felt like family. I also have a big city, St Louis, 20 minutes away. It’s not too far, but it’s not too close. I get to be independent. It just had everything I wanted.”
Going into Maryville next fall, she feels prepared to work hard, not only athletically, but also academically to achieve her goal of becoming a physical therapist. While she knows finding a balance between the two will be difficult, she is confident that she can count on those around her for help.
“It’s going to be overwhelming and it’s definitely going to test me to see how much I can take by myself in a different state,” Letts said. “I don’t have the best time management skills. But I’m going to meet people with the same major as me that will help me out and I know my teammates are going to be there to help push me to be the best I can be.”
Despite the challenges that come with competing at a higher level, Letts is excited to take the step up.
“It’s going to be way harder, I know that already,” Letts said. “I practiced with those girls, they were crazy. They’re way older, they’re way more aggressive, and their shots are hard. Getting hit by those balls leaves marks. And in college, there’s no JV or varsity team, there’s just one team. And you either play, or you don’t. So it’s definitely going to be more work, but I’m ready for that.”
Unlike Letts, Jace Clarizio (12) faced a little more indecision when choosing where to play in college. Clarizio, a four-star recruit running back according to ESPN, received over 15 offers from all over the country. Originally, Clarizio indicated he would be staying home when he committed to Michigan State University in May.
But months after committing to MSU, he flipped his commitment to the University of Alabama in late November, shocking scouts and community members.
“I went down there and I really enjoyed my visit,” Clarizio said. “The atmosphere and people were great, I just loved it.”
But soon after flipping, something didn’t sit right with him. He began to have second thoughts about going to Tuscaloosa. After just a week of being committed to Alabama, Clarizio knew what he had to do.
“I just had to go with my heart,” Clarizio said.
He flipped his commitment once again. This time, back to MSU.
As a lifelong MSU fan, becoming a true spartan just felt right. Additionally, the coaches and the offense felt like a perfect fit. As a top 10 player in the state of Michigan, he’s expected to provide a boost to an MSU offense that struggled to run throughout the year and finished 114th in rushing yards per game in the country. But Clarizio knows the transition from high school to college football won’t come easy.
“I’m definitely gonna have to get adjusted to the competition level,” Clarizio said. “I know it’s going to be different, but I’m gonna work hard to adjust.”
This season, Clarizio rushed for 1,679 yards and 28 touchdowns. As a standout player, he led the team to the state semifinals in late November. He’s the only D1 football signee so far this year, but his aspirations are even higher. Football has always been a dream of his and he wants to prolong his career for as long as possible.
“That’s my goal, my dream, to go the NFL,” Clarizio said.
