Congratulations to Austin for his college choice and good luck in the future!   Name Austin Aviles High School Immokalee High School Graduation Year 2018 College Choice Mercyhurst Northeast Club Affiliations Immokalee Venom Why did you choose this college? I chose Mercyhurst Northeast because I am interested Culinary Arts and that is one of the programs they offer. The opportunity to play lacrosse at the next level is also something I was looking for and to be able to find a place where I could have both is a blessing. Whenever I spoke with Coach Tousaw he made me feel like I was already part of the Mercyhurst family and that was also a huge factor.     What are your first memories of the sport? My first memory of lacrosse is picking up a stick my freshman year and trying to make a pass to teammates. When I first started 4 years ago I couldn’t pass, cradle or shoot the ball very well. Now, that I look back I can see that I improved greatly from where I first started. 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 surprised me the most was how easy it was to be able to talk to all the coaches. For anyone who will be going through the process in the future I would say don’t stress the recruiting too much and just play your game. Make sure you send some film to college coaches, and concentrate on being the best player you can be. Who would you like to thank for helping you get here? I would like to thank my coaches, my parents, and my friends. I wouldn’t have the skill set I have now if it wasn’t for my coaches who helped me understand and play the game better each year. My parents helped buy all equipment I needed and supported me throughout high school. I thank them for helping me get to where I am today.