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Edge Announcement - Kaiti Van Kessel

By AT, 04/21/15, 10:15AM EDT

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Congratulations to Kaiti Van Kessel on her verbal commitment to Canisius College! Kaiti, a member of Edge U17 and U19 has been playing lacrosse since grade 7 with the Orillia Lady Kings. Kaiti learned and developed her game with the Lady Kings before joining EDGE in 2013 to showcase her talent at US recruiting events. Coach Barb Boyes is very excited for Kaiti - 'I am very excited for Kaiti with her recent commitment to Canisius.   Kaiti has worked diligently through the recruiting process to find the right fit of school and lacrosse program for her.  Kaiti is a very reliable player with a good stick and is very dependable with midfield transition. The coaching staff at Canisius will be happy with the consistency in her game, along with her passion for the game that she brings to the field.'

We wish Kaiti well as she continues to prepare and train for NCAA lacrosse at Canisius College in 2016!

Where did you first begin playing lacrosse? Where are you currently enrolled/playing?
KVK - I first began playing lacrosse the summer after 7th grade for the Orillia Lady Kings U15 team. Since then, I have continued to play for the Orillia Lady Kings, Edge Lacrosse U17 and U19, Everest Academy U19, and my high school team, Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School.

Why did you choose Canisius?
KVK - I chose Canisius because I believe it will be a great fit for me athletically and academically and it is not far from home. From an athletic perspective, the lacrosse coach is very kind, they have had great success in the past years as a lacrosse team, and I believe DI is a good fit and balance for me. As well, they have a brand new indoor recreation facility with a turf that will be very beneficial to the team. From an academic perspective, they have great health science programs I am interested in and I love the city setting campus.

What are you looking forward to most at Canisius?
KVK - I am looking forward to playing NCAA lacrosse and creating many memories throughout my experience. I have spoken with other Canadians who have gone to Canisius to play for the women’s lacrosse team, including one of the Edge Coaches, Jess Lee, and they have all enjoyed their experience.

Future ambitions and goals beyond NCAA lax?
KVK - My future goals are to graduate from Canisius College and attend a graduate school for a health profession. I hope to stay in the lacrosse community and share my passion for the game.

When did you join Edge? Can you tell us about your experience in the program?
KVK - I joined Edge in the fall of 2013 and greatly enjoyed the overall experience. The teams I played for had a lot of fun together and the coaches were great. They were very knowledgeable and Barb Boyes and Jess Lee were very supportive and helpful throughout the recruitment process. 

Any future advice for Edge members?
KVK - The advice I would give to future Edge members is to put yourself out there and work hard. The recruiting tournaments are very important in the recruitment process and you need to give it your all on the field. The recruitment process can also be very stressful and a lot of extra work, but it will be worth it in the end.

Favourite memories with Edge?
KVK - My favourite memories with Edge are bonding with the team before the Mid-Atlantic showcase in 2013, and winning 3 out of our 4 games at the Mid-Atlantic showcase in 2014.

Who did you look up to growing up?
KVK - I used to be a competitive gymnast and I always looked up to the USA gymnastics team. Watching them compete in the Olympics at such a young age inspired me to consistently work hard to achieve my own goals. As I transitioned to playing lacrosse, I looked up to Kelsi Pritchard and Katelyn Ayers, two teammates, who are now amazing college athletes. 

Any shoutouts, special thanks?
KVK - I would like to give special thanks to all my lacrosse coaches over the years: Sarah Crowther, Maddi Crowther, Barb Crowther, Teresa Mayo, Terry Bullen, Ashley Rutz, Hanna Burnett, Jackie Noble, Jayme Beard, Gena McPheron, Taylor Landry, and Jordie Loyst. As well, special thanks to my parents, John Mayo, and John Pritchard for the continuous support. I would also like to give special thanks to Barb Boyes and Jess Lee at Edge for their help in the recruitment process and helping me achieve my goals.