You can ask anyone around Huntington High School and they will tell you that Caroline Hartough is a sweet, easygoing and happy young women. But when the senior takes the field for the Blue Devil lacrosse team she is one of the most competitive players anywhere.
Ms. Hartough has signed an NCAA Division I letter of intent to play lacrosse at Youngstown State University in Ohio. The teenager plans to study nursing.
“I chose Youngstown State for many reasons,” Ms. Hartough said. “The second I stepped on campus during my unofficial visit I just knew that this was the school for me. I got an overwhelming feeling of joy while walking all over the campus. The school just screamed home for me. Everyone I met were very nice and I love the atmosphere it gave off. The coaches are also a reason why I chose it. They were very supportive of my major and cared about my academics just as much as athletics. I was considering some other colleges, but as soon as I visited and met some of my future teammates I knew that Youngstown State is where I wanted to be.”
The senior has been a great teammate on the Blue Devil soccer and lacrosse teams and academically she has earned top grades.
Ms. Hartough will be inducted into Huntington High School’s National Honor Society chapter this week. She is also a member of the Art Honor Society and Social Studies Honor Society.
“My all-time favorite teacher would have to be Mr. [Keith] Meyers,” Ms. Hartough said. “He was one of my fifth grade teachers and he helped me learn many things, but most importantly he helped me through my struggles with math, which is now my favorite subject.”
Founded in 1908, Youngstown State enrolls more than 12,600 undergraduate and graduate students on its 140 acre campus. The college just added women’s lacrosse as an NCAA Division I sport for the 2020/21 season. Ms. Hartough will play on the first ever team at the school.
The senior offered valuable advice to incoming Huntington freshmen. “High school won’t be easy, but try to get the most out of the challenges it brings,” Ms. Hartough said. “Even though you’ll face difficulties trying out new opportunities, using your friends and family as a support system will help you. The last thing I would say is that you shouldn’t try to be someone you’re not; just be yourself.”
The teenager displays an optimistic and good-natured personality. She is well-liked by everyone around the high school and has always been popular with her classmates, teammates and teachers and coaches.
“My experience at Huntington has been one I’ll never forget,” Ms. Hartough said. “I made new friends and really opened up. During these past four years I’ve had some ups and downs, but the experience and opportunities that came from them were amazing.”
