Meet the First-Years: Caroline Kingsbery '13

The Generals are coming off of a big conference win against Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday and ready to win a tough game tomorrow vs. Union! This week we're hearing from First-Year Caroline Kingsbery (Short Hills, NJ / Kent Place) about how much she's loving lacrosse and how fast this semester is flying by:

1. What made you choose W&L?
Caroline: My Father, Grandfather, 2 Uncles, and older brother all went to W&L. I always wanted to go here! Then I visited campus and met Brooke fall of my Junior year and I knew W&L was right for me. I struggled looking at other schools, because none of them seemed to fit as perfectly as W&L.

2.How is your second semester going so far?
Caroline: Second semester is going great and I love finally being in season. Fall Ball practice and SAQs (Speed, Agility, and Quickness Classes) were super hard to get through, and its great to get on the field. The spring weather is also making this semester more enjoyable. My Anthropology teacher conducted her lecture outside, and it is so nice to not have to bundle up for practice. It's amazing how quickly the semester is going and that finals are only weeks away!

3.What is the hardest thing you’ve had to adjust to as a college freshman?
Caroline: Everything seems to take so much more time than it used to. Anything, from cleaning my room to doing homework and even lacrosse, requires so many more steps and responsibilities. For example, when I clean my room it involves more than just keeping my room neat. I have to vacuum my floor and clean and iron my laundry, and keep everything very organized. I also really miss seeing my family. Family has always been really important to me, and its really hard not seeing my mother, father, 4 brothers. And of course, my yellow lab, Lilly.

4. What’s been the easiest?
Caroline: I love all the new friends that I've made. People really make an effort to get to know everyone here. I love going into the Dining Hall knowing I will be able to find someone to sit with. It is great to go to such a small school where it is easy to get to know so many people.

5. What are your hobbies outside of lacrosse?
Caroline: I love to swim. W&L luckily has a beautiful pool that I have used quite a few times. I also love to just drive around with friends. W&L is not only such a beautiful place to go to school, but it's also surrounded by a very picturesque landscape so it's always fun to simply sit outside with friends or read a book or go for a walk.

6. Where do you live on campus?
Caroline: I live in Graham-Lees Dorm where my Grandfather, Father, and Brother all lived before me. I think it's definitely the most fun place to live, because you really feel as though you live in the center of campus. Also, the people who live in Graham-Lees have a deep attachment to the dorm and pride that they live there. I requested it as soon as I got my housing form. It's also very nice to have Elizabeth Bucklee, another First-Year on the lacrosse team, living right down the hall from me!

7.Where is your favorite place to eat in Lexington?
Caroline: I love the Southern Inn for dinner. Their calamari is the best! Also the First-Years on the lacrosse team love to go to Wood's Creek Grocery and Blue Sky for lunch. Blue Sky has the best carrot cake and Wood's Creek Grocery has amazing hummus. For such a small town, Lexington has quite a few really good restaurants.

8.Is Lexington a lot different than where you’re from?
Caroline: Yes, Virginia in general is very different from New Jersey. I have never lived more than 45 minutes away from New York City in my life and Lexington, Virginia definitely has a much slower pace. Conversely, the weather, especially this winter, was a little too similar too N.J. It was really funny to see my friends from Memphis, Dallas, and Louisiana experience snow for the first time. Two of my friends actually mistook sidewalk salt for hail, because they had never seen sidewalk salt before. At first everyone was really excited for the snow, but pretty soon everyone grew very anxious for spring.

9. What are you most excited for this season?
Caroline: I love being a part of this team. We all genuinely love to hang out together. After our away games on Saturdays we all eat as much tailgate food as we possibly can, get on the bus, and talk about how excited we are to get back to Lexington and hang out with each other even more. I also love playing in games and challenging each other in practice. It really gives each of us a sense of accomplishment when we are successful after having put so much work into our game.

Meet the First-Years: Mary Jennings Van Sant '13

We're back to introducing the First-Years after a great win this weekend over Mary Washington! Here is a little bit about First-Year M.J. Van Sant, (Chevy Chase, MD / Taft School) and how she's enjoying W&L, Lexington and playing lacrosse with her older sister this year:

1.What made you choose W&L?
MJ: My uncle, brother, and sister all went to W&L so I was always familiar with the school. During the college process I was tentative about coming here because I felt like I would just be following my siblings yet again, instead of having my own college experience. However, after I took my campus tour and was able to meet some of the students and professors I knew that this school would be the perfect fit. I loved the fact that the small amount of students enabled students to have closer relationships with their professors, and provided a close community feel. I was also very impressed with the importance of the honor code and traditions at this school.
2.How is your second semester going so far?
MJ: My second semester is going well. It is challenging to balance lacrosse practice and our game schedule with academics, but it is definitely rewarding because I really enjoy all of my courses.
3. What is the hardest thing you’ve had to adjust to as a college freshman?
MJ: For high school I went to boarding school so I was already used to living away from home. I had already learned to adjust to the typical hard changes that many college freshman face their first year. However, at boarding school there was a strict daily schedule for all students and my time was pretty much planned out for me. So for me the hardest thing I've had to adjust to is learning how to arrange my schedule and time given the additional free time, the difficult workload, and lacrosse. It's taken a little while, but I think I've finally learned how to balance everything!
4.What’s been the easiest?
MJ: The easiest thing i've had to adjust to is being together with my sister Ellie again and going to school with my cousin Cooper Brown. It is so great to have family here and to know that you have people who will be there for you no matter what. It has also been very easy to meet so many new friends and professors because of the great community that W&L provides.
5.What are your hobbies outside of lacrosse?
MJ: Outside of lacrosse I love to spend time with my friends, volunteer whenever possible, play squash, and explore the beautiful Lexington countryside. Away from school my hobbies also include fly fishing, and hunting.

6. Where do you live on campus?
MJ: I live on the 4th floor of Graham Lees and am loving it!
7.Where is your favorite place to eat in Lexington?
MJ: Definitely the Bistro because of their amazing bread and house salad, but I also love the Woods Creek Grocery.
8.Is Lexington a lot different than where you’re from?
MJ: Yes, Lexington is a lot different because I am from the Washington D.C area. Although I miss some of the opportunities that a city provides, I am really enjoying the countryside. It is so amazing to be able to drive around the Lexington area on a nice day and see the beautiful scenery.
9.What are you most excited for this season?

MJ: I'm very excited about having the opportunity to become a part of a group of under and upperclassmen on a daily basis. It has been so great to be able to get to know the older players and I cannot wait to get even closer with the older players as well as the other freshmen as the season progresses. I am also really looking forward to being able to play on a team with my sister again because she has been such a great role model for me.

Feb Break 2010: Maryland Shore Recap

The Generals are back on campus after a stress-free, lacrosse-filled week away!

We traveled to Towson University on Sunday, February 21st to scrimmage McDaniel College and from there began our week in the Maryland/DC area. We were hosted by Anne and Pete Mathews, parents of Junior Midfielder Emmy, for an enjoyable team and family dinner on Sunday evening. We had two hard practices on Monday and Tuesday at Roland Park Country School in Baltimore. The team got a chance to show their talents outside of lacrosse at the Timonium Bowling Lanes on Monday night. We have some pretty serious bowlers on the team, with the MVP award going to a three-way tie between Sophomore Lauren Acker, Sophomore Jenn Linder and Junior Kate Speare. Sophomore Emily Ackerman took home the Most Improved Player Award for the evening and best-dressed bowler went to Sophomore Christina Benedetti, who was fully prepared to show off her Galaxy-Bowling attire but unfortunately the blacklights never came on. Sorry Bene!

We headed down to Salisbury on Tuesday afternoon. Before crossing to the Eastern Shore we spent a few hours in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, where the team took full advantage of shopping opportunities. We spent the night in Salisbury on Tuesday and woke up Wednesday morning ready for our season opener! It was a well fought game that the Generals didn't come away from on top, however we felt we had a lot to be proud of as well as a lot of work to do.

And work we did do. We headed back to Lexington on Wednesday evening, arriving just short of 3AM Thursday morning due to some minor bus troubles. But the team was raring to go on Thursday and we had one of our most productive practices yet. Friday's practice was much the same and afterwards we hit the road again for Alexandria, VA, where we stayed overnight before heading down to St. Mary's College of Maryland. Our preparation paid off as we bounced back from Wednesday's game and beat St. Mary's 14-6!

We just returned from a 20-4 victory over our first ODAC oponent Bridgewater College. Bring on the Dips!