Girls Lacrosse National Combine Invite Another Step in Elite Journey for Ridgewood's Grace Sullivan

RIDGEWOOD, NJ - High school student-athletes have a lot of priorities to balance in 2024 - a rigorous academic course load, team practices, individual training, giving back to the community and time to be a teenager. With college admissions becoming more and more selective each year, it takes a lot of hard work to get noticed by college coaches and then given the golden ticket by admissions representatives. Student-athletes like Ridgewood High School (RHS) junior girls lacrosse midfielder Grace Sullivan are demonstrative of successfully balancing the competing priorities.

Earlier this month, Sullivan was part of USA Lacrosse's three-day national combine at Garrison Forrest School in Owings Mills, Maryland. Only 180 high school girls lacrosse players were invited from across the nation following 23 regional tryouts.

A younger player out on the field, Sullivan had a positive outlook on the experience that is one of many in her future. "It was an honor being selected to attend the combine," she explained. Competition on the field was at its highest, with some older participants returning for their second or third time to the event. When asked about what it is like playing against the talented group, she described it as, "an incredible experience playing on a field with the best players in the country."

Lacrosse has been an integral part of Sullivan's childhood. She first stepped on the field with Ridgewood Lacrosse Association in 2 ^nd grade. Six years later, she was back running through the fundamentals of the game, this time as a coach supporting younger players with the same group.

Neither of her parents played lacrosse, but Sullivan had a lot of energy and the sport is a Ridgewood institution, so her parents decided to sign her up. Growing up, she had numerous babysitters who played for RHS and were role models who taught her important skills on and off the field. Even as she makes her way to the elite combine, she continues her athletic endeavors as a multi-sport athlete, playing soccer and running track at RHS.

Academics and athletics are not her only passion, as Sullivan enjoys singing too. As a kid, she performed in musicals, but the demands of her training have prevented her from participating in shows right now. Instead, she showcases her musical talents by singing the National Anthem before games.

As Sullivan prepares for the upcoming school year, she realizes it is going to be a rigorous one. Junior year is where all the chaos of high school life comes to a head - important classes get looked at closely by colleges, recruiting by coaches officially starts and the infamous standardized admissions tests are scheduled. Since she occupied one of the 180 coveted spots at the national combine, this is going to be the beginning of a busy academic year for Sullivan with coaches preparing to reach out following her past year spent traveling to prospect camps and showcases.

Read more Sports news in Ridgewood:

• Ridgewood Girls Soccer: New Coach Looks to Continue Recent Success
• Ridgewood Crew: Shines in Summer Regattas Across the U.S. and Canada
• A Leap of Faith: How a Simple Email and a Passion for Football Led Ridgewood to Glory

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