Central Bucks West graduate Elena Romesburg is a successful D1 athlete, and her high school coach explains what sets the JMU senior apart. (Photos provided)
Elena Romesburg: An Example of Grit
By Tara Schmucker, Central Bucks West Lacrosse Coach
Athletes come and go each season, and we don’t always hear about their collegiate careers. I’ve been coaching for over fifteen years now and Elena Romesburg (2014 CB West graduate) is one of those kids I can still picture playing. And it is not because of all her awards or stats, but HOW she played. Like she will tell you, she wasn’t perfect in high school and has come a long way since then, but she never lacked intensity or aggression. She could accelerate and decelerate faster than anyone and she never left the field without giving it all she had, usually with a piece of turf or grass on her knees, elbows, etc. And yes, she has always had talent and athleticism, but I’d like to touch on what made and makes her so successful - GRIT.
I find that many kids playing at the next level have little understanding of the physical and mental challenges of competing. Many don’t understand that they are recruited for who they will be and their potential (with very few exceptions), not what kind of player they are in high school. Unless you are a goalie or draw specialist, you are not playing at that level for only one skill (hard shot, good positioning, etc.). It’s not about playing pretty, but instead working hard to get the job done and then challenging yourself further every day as tough players do. It’s about the intangibles and inner drive, practicing just as hard as you play in games, setting goals each day, and never being complacent even after a win or good game. Elena was one of the players that I can remember bringing up a whole team at practice just because of how hard she fought to get a ground ball. And it is that drive she had that helped her survive and become hugely successful at the next level, and her strength of character is what players should admire most.
At the top of the Division I level, on top of managing academics, you essentially have another job that consumes 20-30 hours a week. Your arms, elbows to shoulders, are marred with bruises, your body aches, ice baths are common to find relief. If you are not studying or practicing, you are lifting, running, watching film, doing wall ball, having individual workouts and hopefully getting sleep. Sacrifices have to be made in terms of the typical college social scene, especially in season. Don’t get me wrong, it is an amazing experience, but it takes work, mental/physical toughness and grit.
On top of that, many players don’t play right away at the top level, especially freshman year. And players don’t receive full rides with very few exceptions. D1 coaches have 12 scholarships for an entire team. So most coaches give minimal, if anything, at first and then increase based on contribution. Coaches know recruiting is not a perfect science, so they watch as players learn to fit into a system, handle much more contact, and they especially see how girls meet or don’t meet the dramatic increase in speed and physicality at that level. I see many players who have difficulty at the next level because they become a small fish in a big pond their freshman year and don’t know how to push themselves to becoming a big fish again. Once having the best shot or stick work, being the fastest or dominating in high school, they are now average and surrounded by teammates who also had those same high school experiences and stats. So, they have a choice: work harder or remain status quo. Lock in and embrace the opportunity or acquiesce to all the pressures. Now some players realize that the commitment is not for them or they choose to dedicate themselves to academics and other areas, which is understandable. But for those who want more in lacrosse, take a lesson from Elena.
It can be frustrating not playing after giving up all that time and the normal college experience. Elena got some time her freshman year (11 out of 20 games) and more her sophomore (played in all 20 and started 13). Not satisfied, she didn’t give up or complain, she dug deep. What I saw when she returned home every summer was one word - GRIT. She dedicated herself to the workout packet, working at her speed, strength and stick skills, etc. At the track, weight room, wall for stick work and more. She would tell me how she worked with coaches and teammates offseason and not just at practice. And she achieved her goal of a more successful season because she did everything in her power to improve.
Elena is a big fish and beast (in the most positive athletic sense of the word). Standing 5’2” she is tiny but tenacious and now faster and stronger than even she would have expected. Obviously, having the experience with JMU’s system and strategy gave her confidence and help, but she never stopped striving to be a better player and pushing herself. And that grit has always been in her, that intrinsic motivation and voice inside her head that always made her want to be first to every ball. And I attribute her grit, competitive nature and intrinsic motivation that says “I won’t give up, I can be better” to why she has had (and will continue to have) such an exceptional lacrosse career.
A snapshot of her resume: In high school, Elena was an All Academic All-American and All American and also had four SOL First Team All-League selections and multiple team awards. In college, she has received CAA First team all league, CAA All-Academic team, CAA Institutional Scholar athlete of the year, Player of the Week, VaSID Second team All State, VaSID all-academic team, IWCLA Division 1 Academic honor roll, Midseason Media 3rd team All American, and other accolades. Currently, Elena is a senior at James Madison University, which is top 5 in the NCAA Division 1 polls, in line for the CAA conference title for the second year in a row, and definitely a promising team for the NCAA tournament. She is also in the top 50 finalists for the annual Tewaaraton Award (the Heisman award in lacrosse). If that’s not impressive enough, Elena has also been drafted by the UWLX Philly Force, the semi-professional league and the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League.
So, from all of us at CB West and in the surrounding areas, congrats to E! We wish her and her team the best as they close out their regular season and head to playoffs. Thank you for providing an example of toughness and grit. Your resolve gives future players something to strive for and an understanding of how to push through the challenges on the field and in life.
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