By John Orrell
Landmark Correspondent
PRINCETON — When high school student-athletes elevate their game to the level of being recognized and recruited to compete in the collegiate ranks, it largely results from determination, dedication and just plain hard work. When it’s a Division 1 school that comes calling, that only heightens the honor and recognition that a student-athlete has what it takes to face the toughest of the tough competition.
Wachusett Regional High School junior Meghann Jones is one such person. New York’s Iona University, a Division 1 school, has chosen Jones to compete in girls’ lacrosse as a Gael following her days at Wachusett. Jones is thrilled by the opportunity and anxiously awaits this next chapter in her life.
“I’m excited to be playing for a Division 1 school because I always want to challenge myself and play at the highest level I can,” said Jones, who hails from Princeton. “It just worked out so great. As I was getting older, I started to realize that maybe I could actually do this, and that’s when I really started pushing to improve my game.”
The first step in determining whether there is compatibility between player and team is reaching out and playing in a showcase match once invited to campus.
“I started sending emails to coaches asking if they’d come watch me,” she said. “I knew about Iona, but I wasn’t really in contact with them. This past fall, I went to a tournament in Albany, and I felt like I had one of the best games ever. After that, my coach told me that Iona wanted my number and to talk with me. I was so excited because I didn’t know they were looking at me. I ended up going down there for an unofficial visit in December.
“The team at Iona was wonderful. They walked me around the campus and showed me everything, and I just loved the team and the girls. I was talking with some other schools at the time, but Iona just treated me so respectfully and so I committed in February. Even though it was a verbal commitment, I’m 100 percent committed to Iona.”
With the remainder of this season and all of the next to compete at Wachusett, there remains much hard work to do to see the school’s varsity lacrosse team excel.
Jones’ family is highly sports involved. Besides herself, there are younger sisters Lauren, Elizabeth and Alison, who all compete in sports. Alison becoming the varsity team’s starting goalkeeper as a freshman was quite an accomplishment, as her experience in net was admittedly not extensive.
“She (Alison) was a little on the fence with lacrosse, and I told her if she wanted to have a shot to make varsity, she had to come out as a goalie,” said Jones. “She worked so hard over the winter, going to all these different clinics and camps to be a goalie, and I love it. It makes me a better defender knowing that I’ve got my sister on my back and I don’t want anyone to score on her. It’s so awesome because we work so well together. I love having her on our team.”
“Meghann is one of those unique and special athletes that you see every once in a blue moon,” said WRHS varsity lacrosse head coach Jillian Liposky. “Not only does she have a great mindset and knowledge of the game, but she also has great leadership on and off the field. She encourages her own varsity team but also the JV team. In practice, you can see she’s teaching the girls different stickwork and mental mindsets that are really important on our team. We’ve been focusing on having positivity, and she does that nicely.
“As a person, she is great. She does well academically and is involved in the community. She has a great relationship with her family, who are very supportive of her. She has qualities that make her a great student-athlete.”
“Lacrosse just really makes me happy,” said Jones, who began playing the sport in second grade and has now advanced to being a team captain as a junior. Whenever I step out on that field, almost nothing else matters. I want to be the best that I can be in lacrosse, and I want my team to be better. Usually the first play or two, I will get a little nervous, but once I’m out there I get locked in, especially having my teammates by my side.
“What drives me is my dad, because he is the most amazing leader I’ve ever seen. I try to be like him when it comes to being a leader. My leadership style can be a little tough, but I’m always there for my team to help them out.
Jones also has a penchant for volunteering. She is a pre-adaptive coach for New England Disabled Sports in New Hampshire, helping students with mental and physical challenges. She is a member of the National Honor Society and fills out her schedule in the off-months playing club lacrosse for the Bay State Bullets. For now, she will make the most of her Wachusett days and savor the memories of being a lady Mountaineer.
“I love going to Wachusett,” Jones said. “I feel a little bit of pressure from all the great Wachusett teams. Lacrosse is not Wachusett’s greatest sport, but when I put on that Wachusett jersey, I feel that we have much to prove. We need to be right up there with other girls’ sports, and I’m confident we can come out up high this year.”
