As her final season with Campo lacrosse begins, midfielder senior Catie McCauley has announced that she will be bringing her talents to the collegiate level next year. McCauley has committed to the University of California, Davis, where she will be playing lacrosse for their D1 program.

The Campo lacrosse community is very excited for McCauley’s next chapter. Varsity Head Coach Devon Combe said, “She’s going to be very successful in college…there’s never been a doubt that she was going to play at the next level.” A varsity athlete for all 4 years, McCauley’s hard work has made her an inspirational role model for all her teammates.

Combe described the “protective instinct” as one of McCauley’s key strengths. “She’s a very selfless player who is focused on setting her team up for success. You can tell she cares very deeply for her teammates.”

Sophomore Elsie Ceridono said, “[McCauley’s] really good at giving constructive criticism and bringing optimism to team huddles.” McCauley is the team captain this year and she hopes to lead the team through another successful NCS tournament.

When asked about McCauley’s team leadership, sophomore Caroline Griffith said, “Even when I was a freshman, [McCauley] always made me feel included on and off the field.” Aside from being an impressive athlete, McCauley fosters an inclusive environment for new and experienced players.

“I think Davis is a great fit for her, especially since she’ll get to play with [co-captain senior] Paige [Davis] again,” Ceridono and Griffith agreed. Davis also committed to UC Davis this past year. “I’m really excited to spend the next 4 years with my best friend…we motivate each other, and I think our close friendship off the field makes us super successful on the field,” Davis said.

“I’m really proud of Catie…I know the recruiting process can be really stressful,” Davis said. For athletes looking to continue their athletic careers in college, there’s a ton of difficult decisions to be made. For Catie, there were a few deciding factors that made Davis her top pick.

McCauley said, “[She] loved the coach and the people which was really important to me.” In addition to the competitive athletic program, McCauley was drawn to the school’s impressive academics: “I know Davis will give me a really good education that will get me somewhere successful after I graduate.”

Campo’s lacrosse community is so proud of McCauley and knows that she will thrive at the next level. In the words of Combe, “[McCauley] has such a passion for the game, and it’s exciting she landed on a program that will nurture that passion.”