On Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, Upper Dublin senior Jess Derr was recognized for committing to play lacrosse at Arcadia University. To view photos of the event, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Jess Derr – Arcadia University (Lacrosse)
Major: Criminal Justice/English
Final list of colleges: Arcadia, Albright, Bard, Haverford
Reasons for choosing Arcadia: “Every time I visited Arcadia, I felt extremely comfortable and at home on campus. Everyone on campus, especially the lacrosse girls, are very friendly and diverse. Also, Arcadia has a great study abroad program, and I have always wanted to travel more as I haven’t been any further in the world than South Carolina so far.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in lacrosse at the collegiate level? “Playing club lacrosse with Ultimate under my coach, Anne Pillion, for the past few years really helped me develop my skills and know what to expect at the college level.
“I always thought about playing in college. Being an athlete is such a huge part of my identity that I never really considered giving it up. It was not until club lacrosse though that I actually began to actively take part in the recruiting process.”
Coach Lauren Mateja says: “With a clear voice and aggressive style of play, Jess Derr is our veteran on defense this year. She's really stepped into a strong leadership role this year as a tri-captain, and many of the underclassmen look to her for inspiration. She works hard off the field to get better, spending time in the weight room and learning the game as a coach with the local youth program.
“Arcadia is a fantastic fit for Jess academically and athletically, and we're excited to watch her grow as a player in 2016 and beyond.”
Former coach Dee Cross says: “Jess is a defender, and she started varsity as a sophomore and junior. She is just the epitome of a hard worker. She wanted to play in college, and she’s a kid that is every coach’s dream. To finish out my coaching career with a player like her was just very rewarding. She would do anything that we asked. She’s very open to asking how she could get better, she’s very open to criticism and she would just work very hard on her skills. I think that’s what set her apart last year as a junior. We had a young team without a lot of experience, and she did anything she could to make the team successful.”
About Jess:
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite movie: Pacific Rim & Whiplash
Favorite music: Country
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