(L)ACROSS THE POND: UK LAX REPRESENTATION IN THE USA
The allure of the US college experience owes much to the countless 90s and 00s movies that have shaped our perceptions, offering a somewhat one-sided view of what college life is like in America. Growing up, I was fascinated by the idea of attending a US college and joining a sorority, largely due to the media-driven image of “sisterhood”—a concept that often seemed more like forced friendships in retrospect. With sport-driven American relatives and a sister who earned an athletic scholarship to Georgia State University (GSU) in Atlanta, I’ve had the opportunity to visit several colleges as a non-student. These visits revealed aspects of college life that aren’t always depicted in films.
Being a collegiate athlete in the US is a vastly different experience compared to the UK. For one, many US colleges prohibit sports scholarship students from joining sororities or fraternities. Additionally, the sheer popularity of collegiate sports in the US is staggering. My cousin, who played American football at Oklahoma State University (OSU), regularly played in front of home crowds of up to 80,000 fans. Driving through the surrounding areas, we’d see countless orange “OSU” stickers adorning cars owned by local residents, many of whom had no ties to the university beyond living nearby.
While my sister spent four years at GSU, she missed out on experiencing the contrast between university life in the US and the UK. However, UK students who take the leap across the pond after attending university at home often find the transition to be a surprising adjustment. One such student is Scotland international Tobias Cleaver-Ross, whose story is remarkable. Tobias first picked up a lacrosse stick as a goalkeeper at Loughborough University, where his natural talent quickly became evident. His dedication earned him a scholarship to Florida State University, allowing him to compete at a higher level while continuing his education. His journey highlights the transformative power of university lacrosse in the UK.
Other male internationals have also used their sporting talent to secure places at US colleges. British Lacrosse and England internationals Alex Russell, William Baxter, and Lyndon Bunio are prime examples, while emerging talents like Hugo Peel and George Shonfeld have recently started at Harford University, having been signed straight out of school. But it’s not just the men who are making waves. Alice Ripper is currently blazing a trail in NCAA Division 1 women’s lacrosse as a scholarship athlete at the University of North Carolina (UNC). With one of the most successful programmes in NCAA history, UNC is a powerhouse in women’s lacrosse, and Alice’s inclusion in their roster is a significant achievement.
Speaking to USA Lacrosse Magazine, Alice reflected on her journey to UNC under the leadership of Jenny Levy. “The U.S. is the best place in the world for lacrosse,” she said. “I thought about [applying to schools there], but I probably wasn’t at a level where I could go, be what I wanted to be, and get the most out of it. I needed those years to catch up as a UK player.”
Historically, it has been rare to see home-grown British talent on the rosters of high-profile NCAA Division 1 colleges. Notable exceptions include Welsh and British Lacrosse international Laura Warren, who was recruited by University of Maryland Head Coach Cindy Timchal over two decades ago. At the time, the Terps were one of the top NCAA Division 1 teams, and Laura’s presence helped inspire future generations of British players. Following in her footsteps was Laura Merrifield, another British standout who joined the University of Maryland a few years later and became a key player for England and British Lacrosse. These pioneers exemplify how UK athletes can excel in the US collegiate system while representing their countries on the world stage.
So, how can aspiring British athletes follow in their footsteps?