Officially Signed: St. John’s School’s Seniors Commit to Division I Athletics

When senior Gracey Crawford signed her athletic commitment to the University of Virginia, she felt an overwhelming mix of excitement and relief.

She has been waiting a year and a half to officially become a Cavalier and join their Division I women’s field hockey program. Once a contract is signed, neither the college nor the student-athlete can change their decision.

“Signing lifted a lot of weight off my shoulders, and for the rest of the school year,” Crawford said.

Likewise, senior Caroline Plachy recently signed her contract with Davidson College, where she will compete in Division I lacrosse.

“It’s a breath of relief knowing that I’m officially bound,” Plachy said.

For both seniors, being student-athletes has required years of sacrifice. Whether it meant carving out time for academics or prioritizing homework over social events, Plachy and Crawford have learned to balance their schedules to succeed both at school and on the field. Even on plane rides to tournaments, Crawford can often be found finishing assignments.

Crawford plays for Texas Pride Field Hockey, one of the top club programs in the nation. Each year, many of its senior athletes continue their field hockey careers at the collegiate level. Seeing older teammates at her club succeed inspired Crawford to follow in their footsteps.

While field hockey has a strong presence in the Texas region, lacrosse is far more popular in the Northeast. Because the sport is less established in the South, Plachy had to work early and intentionally to get noticed by college recruiters. She has known since middle school that she wanted to play in college. In addition to competing for St. John’s School, she plays for Grit Lacrosse Club.

“I had to really want it because there was no one in Texas helping me get there,” Plachy said. “I had to do it on my own and it was a very self-led path.”

To gain exposure, she attended numerous tournaments each year, frequently flying out of state due to lacrosse’s stronger presence elsewhere.

“For me, no one’s coming to see St. John’s play lacrosse,” Plachy said. “I had to seek them out instead of the other way around.”