Author’s Note:  Again, an excellent questionnaire!  Thanks Ainsley!  Everyone remember you are passing on your experiences to your peers!

  Congratulations to Ainsley on her college choice and good luck in the future!   Name Ainsley Malamala High School The Benjamin School Graduation Year 2019 College Choice Mercer University Club Affiliations Lax Maniax Why did you choose this college? I chose Mercer because it was the perfect fit for me, academically as well as athletically. I know I will constantly be challenged both in the classroom and on the field. Also, I wanted to go somewhere that I can make an immediate impact and have the opportunity to get on the field as much as possible during my 4 years of college while getting a great education. My Sister, who is a Junior, currently plays in College and I have been lucky to have the opportunity to see the process unfold and get a great idea of what to expect. It will also be exciting to play for a great coaching staff and for a competitive program. I like that I will be somewhat close to home so my family will be able to come to my games and support me and the team. What are your first memories of the sport? My first memories of the sport was watching my older sister play and from that point on I couldn’t wait to play myself. What part of the process was most surprising to you about the recruiting process and what would you like to pass on to those who are going to face it in the future? What I would most like to pass on to girls who will be involved in the process in the future is to make sure to find the right fit for you. Don’t go to a school only for lacrosse or for the brand name, you need to look for the total package, academics, location, size, cost and opportunity to play. Most importantly, don’t worry about what others are doing or saying. Do what is best for you and your family. So many girls make decisions for the wrong reason and end up quitting or leaving the school all together sometimes this is unavoidable, but sometimes it is because the thought of playing in College was better than the reality of playing in College. Who would you like to thank for helping you get here? I would like to thank Coaches Sarah Burlingame and Stephen Malasky for coaching me since middle school and always teaching me to work hard and be the best player I can be!  In addition, I would like to thank our good family friend Coach Tracy Wiener from The Long Island Yellow Jackets for helping me throughout the whole recruiting process and always supporting me through all of the ups and downs and continuously reminding me that it will all work out. Most importantly, I would like to thank my parents and siblings for their love, support and sacrifice especially my Mom for always believing in me and pushing me to be the best player and person I can be and for spending countless hours away from our family on airplanes, in hotel rooms and on lacrosse fields in order for me to realize my dream.