Each Week, College Corner interviews five LFHS seniors on where they’re planning to attend college next year, what influenced their decision, and what they’re most excited about.

Name: Chelsea Tzau

College: Colby College

Sport: Lacrosse

Location: Waterville, Maine

Mascot: White Mule

Did you always want to play a sport in college?:

“I originally thought that I would end up at a big state school. However, after talking to my sister, who goes to a medium sized school (Vanderbilt), I knew I wanted to go to a small school with small classes where I could become really close to people. I began to want to play a sport in college, whether club or regular, after continuously following the players from the Women’s USA national team as a kid, many of whom played college lacrosse. Going to a small academically challenging institution and playing lacrosse started to align with both of my goals and became the perfect opportunity for me to play in college.”

Why Colby?:

“I chose Colby because of the small size and incredibly tight knit community. The community surrounding Colby and everyone I have connected with so far are all incredibly welcoming and focused on all helping each other succeed. I also chose Colby because I wanted a balance between playing a sport and attending a school with academic rigor, which Colby has.” 

What are you most excited about?:

“I am most excited about experiencing the outdoors in Maine!! I love hiking, skiing / snowboarding, swimming at beaches, all of which Colby has. I am also super excited to experience being part of a team and also super excited to meet new people from all different backgrounds.”

Name: Lainey O’Neil

College: University of Richmond

Sport: Tennis 

Location: Richmond, Virginia 

Mascot: Spiders

Did you always want to play a sport in college?:

“I’ve been playing sports pretty much my whole life, so it’s definitely something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Why Richmond?: 

“I chose Richmond because it has the perfect balance between strong academics, strong athletics, and a fun social scene- all of which were super important to me. I also fell in love with the campus, and the location is perfect!” 

What are you most excited about?: 

“I’m most excited to meet new people, play collegiate tennis, and to just start a new chapter of my life as a Spider!”

Name: Caroline Keil

College: University of Denver

Sport: Lacrosse

Location: Denver Colorado 

Mascot: Pioneer

Did you always want to play a sport in college?: 

“Yes, I have always been super competitive, so I knew I wanted to play at a high level in the future.”

Why Denver?: 

“I chose Denver because I loved the location and the size was perfect for me. I also wanted to play at a high level and DU has been a top-10 team for a while so it had all the things I wanted. I also really liked the coaches as well as the girls on the team.” 

What are you most excited about?:  

“I am most excited to be living in Colorado and to ve able to explore more.”

Name: Asa Thomas

College: Clemson University

Sport: Basketball

Location: Clemson, South Carolina

Mascot: Tigers

Did you always want to play a sport in college?: Ever since a young age, I’ve been watching college basketball and I have always thought it would be a cool experience to be able to play at that level so I have always wanted to play basketball in college.

Why Clemson?: When I first visited Clemson, I knew it was a spot where I wanted to be. It felt like home right away, both with the coaching staff and players. It was a great fit for me on and off the court.

What are you most excited about?: I am most excited about the different environments and venues that I’ll get to play in during my time there. The memories that I am going to be able to make both with the guys on the team and with other students will last a lifetime.

Name: Sam Larson

College: Denison

Sport: Baseball

Location: Granville, Ohio

Mascot: Big Red

Did you always want to play a sport in college?: “Ever since I was young, I always wanted to play a sport in college. I never knew it would be a reality until high school. No one in my family played a sport in college, but they were all very supportive of my desire to.”

Why Denison?: “I picked Denison after visiting the beautiful campus and touring all the facilities., It felt like a school I could picture myself playing at in the future. It also helped having old high school teammates that are also on the team.”

What are you most excited about?: “I am really excited to travel with the team to new places and continue to play baseball for the next four years.”