Severna Park Teen Commits to Play Lacrosse at UNC

Katie Kinsey, a Severna Park resident and a senior at Annapolis Area Christian School, signed a letter of intent to play lacrosse at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill next year.

Patch caught up with Kinsey, 17, to ask her a few questions about her recent signing.

Severna Park Patch: What are you most looking forward to in college?
Katie Kinsey: I look forward to meeting new people and having the chance to build strong relationships with my fellow lacrosse teammates. I'm also excited to face new challenges because I know that's one of the greatest ways to learn and grow. 

Severna Park Patch: How has your high school lacrosse career (in school or outside of school) prepared you for the Division I experience?
Kinsey: My club lacrosse team is the reason why I have this amazing opportunity. Throughout my high school career, I've had the chance to work with a number of extremely talented coaches. Because of their dedication and willingness to work with me, I was able to get recruited. Even though my coaches have pushed me and have helped me improve tremendously, I know I have a long way to go and a great deal to learn. The Division I experience is something I can do my best to prepare for, but until I actually take part in the experience, I won't know what the experience fully entails.

Severna Park Patch: What made you decided to choose UNC?
Kinsey: I chose UNC Chapel Hill for a number of reasons. First, I'm very interested in a health field for my future profession and UNC has an amazing health department. Second, the town of Chapel Hill is beautiful and reflects the college so well. Third, I wanted to go south. Fourth, I wanted a big school where I could meet a variety of people and support the big sports teams. Fifth, the people at the school genuinely want to be there and have an infectious positivity. Last but certainly not least, I loved the lacrosse program. The coaches are beyond great and I couldn't ask for a friendlier group of girls when it comes to my team.

Severna Park Patch: What do you like to do besides lacrosse?
Kinsey: I enjoy anything active! I love boating, going to the beach, snowboarding, golfing, swimming, hiking, climbing, and simply being outdoors!

Severna Park Patch: Who would you say has had the most influence on you and your athletic career and why?
Kinsey: The two people that come to my mind for this question are Sue Chittim and Allison Perkins. These two women were both my coaches at one point. Allison coached me during my  sophomore summer. At that point, I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue to play lacrosse and pursue a college career. However, Allison made me fall in love with the game and truly enjoy every time I stepped onto the field. She encouraged me to keep playing and since then has continued to be a great friend.

Sue Chittim coached me during my junior summer, which is when girls are being heavily recruited. She was the one who contacted UNC and told them I was interested in their program. If it wasn't for her, Carolina may not have considered me for their program. Ultimately, Sue and Allison have been such a great support system, for which I am extremely grateful.

Severna Park Patch: What advice would you give to a younger athlete looking to pursue a college athletic career?
Kinsey:  I would advise a younger athlete to pursue their goals wholeheartedly. When you give all that you have to a particular goal, amazing things can happen. Something that I've realized and continue to remember is that you never know when certain doors of opportunity will open for you. If you consistently work hard in everything you do, it'll pay off.

See Also:

• Severna Park Teen Commits to Swim at Penn State