CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kelsey Owen is not the type of person to brag about her accomplishments but there is no doubt she is a key reason the Chagrin Falls girls lacrosse team earned its third consecutive trip to the Division II state semifinals this season.
Along with her role in helping the Tigers (17-2) come within one game of the finals, Owen earns the honor as the 2014 cleveland.com girls lacrosse player of the year.
Owen led the Tigers in assists with 33 and in ground balls with 48. She also finished second in goals-scored, tallying 51 on 96 shots.
Chagrin Falls' Kelsey Owen played a key role in helping her team to its third straight Division II state semifinal in 2014. (Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer) (Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer)
Exceptional athleticism earned her first team All-Ohio honors from the Ohio Schoolgirls Lacrosse Association. Her 4.2 grade-point average earned Owen her third Academic All-Ohio honor in as many years. These things combined with her character on and off the field make her a shining example of what a player of the year in any sport should exemplify.
When she's not looking to drive to the goal or set up one of her teammates for a score, she devotes many weekends and holidays volunteering at a soup kitchen known as St. Mary's Little Sisters of the Poor, which specializes in catering to elderly people who do not have family.
As a junior, Owen has nine varsity letters: Three in basketball, three in soccer and three in lacrosse.
Here, Owen reflects on her playing career and other aspects of her life as told to the Northeast Ohio Media Group:
I think one of my greatest strengths as a player is definitely on the offensive aspect of the game. I've learned a lot this year. I'm driving to the goal. Making moves.
My dad played college football at Michigan. He's always taught me the importance of determination and working to achieve your goals and making sure you set goals so you have somewhere to go.
Another one of my role models is my coach, KC White. She has cystic fibrosis and she's continued to push through that and continue to be successful in spite of being a little bit handicapped.
One of my former teammates, Kate Mackin, goes to Tufts University and plays lacrosse there. She's been such a role model for me, how she puts academics before her athletic performance, which is really important. Also, Maddie Wilson. She goes to Capital University and she always comes back and is helping us in the summer. She's been really key in my lacrosse career.
I began playing lacrosse in fifth grade and now I'm actually helping to coach for a new youth program in Chagrin called Gateway Lacrosse, which just started this year. It's for players in grades 5-8 but we're hoping to also get a high school league.
I'm looking into college recruiting now. I've been looking at some Big Ten schools like Wisconsin and Michigan. I really like the sciences and English. I helped out this year at the writing center in our school.
HONORABLE MENTION
Kasidy Anderson, Shaker Heights; Marion Margaret Brosko, Kenston; Kate Carlos, Walsh Jesuit; Andrea Chiviles, Rocky River; Kristen Hendricks, Chagrin Falls; Mackenzie Hitchcock, Medina; Maddie Holvey, Revere; Jackie Kisthardt, Hudson; Maeve Lyness, Shaker Heights; Lily Manchester, Chagrin Falls; Amanda Rom, Medina; Olivia Stafford, Magnificat; Josie Strang, Hathaway Brown; Sarah Vanadia, Medina; Jill Zavoda, Magnificat.
Contact high school sports reporter Robert Rozboril by email (rrozboril@cleveland.com), Twitter (@rrozboril) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/rrozboril). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
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