Junior Devon St. John Commits to Cornell University

Devon St. John had just about enough of the college recruiting process before she stepped into the Huntington High School athletic office on a recent afternoon to place an arranged call to the Cornell University women’s lacrosse coach.

The conversation went so well that less than 24 hours later the junior was standing on the college’s campus in Ithaca and not too long after that, the Blue Devil great had given the Ivy League school a verbal commitment to play on its NCAA Division I team.

Ms. St. John had a list of schools she was interested in, but the pairing between the athlete and the college had to be mutually satisfying and needed by both parties. Yes, the teenager is a great student and sure she’s a wonderful player, too, but colleges need to recruit for specific positions and the players have to fit into the respective program’s system and general philosophy.

The junior stepped into the high school’s athletic office excited, but nervous. The folks there managed to settle her down and focus in on the call. They let Ms. St. John place the call from an inner office, closed the door and left her alone. When she emerged and stated she was invited to visit the campus the next day, she received a dose of advice on what to say and do if she really wanted play for the Big Red. The teenager took it all in and even rehearsed some of it.

The visit went so well that she gave Cornell a verbal commitment, which unofficially seals the deal. She still has to formally be admitted like any other applicant, but it’s virtually assured, she’s headed to the Ivy League.

Huntington head coach Katie Reilly, herself a product of the Ivy League as captain of the Princeton University women’s lacrosse team, did everything she could to help Ms. St. John navigate her way through the college recruiting process.

Why Cornell? “I mean, it’s a good lacrosse school and great academically, which was my top priority,” Ms. St. John said. “And once I got there I fell in love with the campus and the team and everything. It just seemed like home. The coaches are so friendly and helpful and I can just totally see myself fitting right in my freshman year and playing.”

The teenager is interested in studying law and political science with perhaps a minor in business. But she still have two season remaining in a Huntington uniform and Ms. St. John intends to make her time with the Blue Devils count.

“I really want to make it far in playoffs in lacrosse the next two seasons and hopefully get All-County,” she said. “As for academics, I hope to do well on my SAT and ACT and eventually graduate high in my class. I also want to win the spelling bee again.” (Ms. St. John won the school wide spelling bee as a sophomore last year.)

The teenager is most definitely happy the recruiting program has wrapped up for her. “It was definitely stressful and difficult at times,” she said. “All the tournaments, showcases and camps were time consuming, but they were so worth it. I owe a lot of where I am today to Coach Reilly. She helped me every step of the way and made my process so much easier and I can’t thank her enough.”