Meghan Holland ’23 started her lacrosse journey in third grade when her mother signed her up for a local lacrosse league. Many of her elementary school friends played in the same league and inspired her to try out a sport other than soccer. But, little did Holland know that this was just the beginning of her long journey with lacrosse. Originally, Holland had no interest in playing lacrosse in college. However, after a socalled “rocky sophomore season,” according to Holland, her club coach gave her a pep talk that allowed her to relax and enjoy playing lacrosse again, which turned many heads over the summer season. Her decision to commit to Colgate University was cemented after she “loved” her tour there, she said. Her parents emphasized that Holland should prioritize going to a place “where she was wanted,” and after some conversations with the coach at Colgate University, Holland knew she had found her new home. Holland said that her favorite part of being a student-athlete, other than competing, is hanging out with her teammates every day and bonding with them during team meals. Holland shared how post-practice meals her freshman year gave her a designated area to converse where she could show her bubbly and outgoing personality. Holland has two older brothers, Will Holland ’21 and Michael Holland ’19, who, after four years at Deerfield Academy, went to play ice hockey in college. She said that her brothers “honestly paved a path for me and made my transition here easier…[but] it also put pressure on me to emulate who they were.” Holland said, “It was difficult to find myself, but I think that once my middle brother left…I was able to be me and not just my brother’s little sister. ” She has been a trivarsity athlete for most of her Deerfield career as a member of the Girls’ Volleyball, Basketball, and Lacrosse teams. Teammate Harlowe Healey ’24, who shares the lacrosse field and basketball court with her, said, “I am proud of the confidence Meghan has gained in herself. Sharing the field with someone as competitive as her and has the definition of a team-first attitude is something I and everyone will miss dearly.” Lacrosse teammate Loulla Rousou ’25 said, “She leads by example and has helped create a very special team culture this season as captain.” English Teacher and Basketball Coach Julie Schloat said, “Meghan worked her way up through the basketball program, proving her work ethic and leadership skills along the way. She was an outstanding captain in her senior year and commanded the floor as our point guard. Her ability to shake off mistakes and focus on the positive helped us build a tight-knit team.” Holland said her favorite season, besides lacrosse, was her diligent but comical freshman season on the volleyball team. As one of the few freshmen who made the cut, Holland found that the team was full of humorous seniors and energetic freshmen with excellent chemistry on the court. As a result, the team made it to the semi-finals for the first time in history, and as Holland said, the drive and victories “were because of our team chemistry.” Holland balances three varsity sports, a rigorous academic schedule, and a role as a peer counselor. Although she found it hard to manage her time during her first year at Deerfield, she said has since learned the value of the phrase “work smarter, not harder” when completing her schoolwork. In addition, Holland encourages every student at Deerfield to join a sport because it makes “the school feel smaller,” she said. Holland has set a high standard for what it means to be a Deerfield student, and the community cannot wait to see her out on the lacrosse field for Colgate’s class of ’27.