(October 24, 2014) – Woodgrove High School junior Courtney Olivier has verbally committed to join head coach Gina Oliver at the University of Cincinnati where she will continue her lacrosse career beginning in the 2016-2017 academic year.
“I’m not so stressed anymore about college and lacrosse,” said the 5-foot Olivier. “I’m so happy in my choice of committing early!”
Olivier made her commitment shortly after the Woodgrove Wolverines defeated the Loudoun Valley Vikings in the VHSL 5A Girls Lacrosse State championship in mid-June. The state final victory was the first ever for a Loudoun County school in girls lacrosse.
“It’s unreal! And to have beat our biggest rival 15-1, that was awesome. I have always wanted a state ring and to finally get one is so exciting,” said Olivier who was born in Florida. “I hope to be able to help my team to win another state title before I leave, and I hope to bring my determination to Cincy to help them achieve a conference title.”
The high school junior will have a lot of work cut out for her when she makes the journey to southwest Ohio as the women’s lacrosse program struggled in American Athletic Conference play during the 2014 season finishing 0-7.
Head coach Gina Oliver – a member of the United States women’s national team – will enter her second season at the helm of the Division I Bearcats’ program this spring and will look to improve upon a 6-11 finish in 2014.
“In the summer of 2013, I attended a camp and I had a coach, Lauren Gunning – who happened to be the UC assistant coach. I learned so much from her: stuff that I still use today. I remember always wanting to play for her,” said Oliver who will play midfield for the Bearcats.
“Cincinnati later contacted me via [my club]team, and I soon traveled up to UC where I met the other assistant coach, Shannon Wetzel, and the head coach, Gina Oliver. I wanted to play for UC as soon as I stepped foot on the campus; I just pictured myself going there and I knew that was the place for me.”
Oliver – who plays club lacrosse for Skywalkers 2016 Blue – noted her inspiration to play lacrosse stemmed from the boys in her neighborhood who always played.
“I remember I started playing in seventh grade year because I lived in a neighborhood full of guys that all played, and I thought it was so cool so they taught me how to play,” Oliver said. “Just being on my Skywalkers team motivates me to doing better. Every day I strive to work harder, become a smarter and better player and athlete. I always want to improve; I’m never satisfied.”