By Madison Behm &
Tristan Bugos

Senior year is the last lap in the crazy race known as high school. For many seniors, athletes in particular, it is their final year to accomplish the goals they have been working toward since freshman year – especially getting into college.
On Nov. 13, surrounded by family and Lane administrators in Room 113, swim star, Meghan Lavelle, Div. 464, signed a letter of intent to swim for the University of Iowa. At the same ceremony, Emily Espinosa, Div. 465, committed to play softball for Lewis University in Romeoville, IL.
Lavelle has broken numerous swimming records and gained much publicity in the past several months, earning interest from several Big Ten schools who are offering scholarships. Though Lavelle broke seven Lane records her junior year, she decided to specialize in her best events this year: the 100-meter Backstroke and the 200-meter Individual Medley. These two events, along with the 200-meter Backstroke and 400-meter Individual Medley, are the types of swim events Lavelle will likely swim for the University of Iowa.
“As for my college decision, I chose University of Iowa because of the financial aid and their swim team’s balance,” Lavelle said. “They have younger coaches to connect with the girls more while still having older coaches to keep everyone on track and know the ins and outs of the sport.”
Sitting beside Lavelle in Room 113, Espinosa signed on to play for Lewis University’s softball team, though she only pretended to sign during the Lane event.
“I signed the documents for real at home with my family and friends. We had a party, and my family, some family-friends, my travel coach and a former coach were all there,” Espinosa said. “It was exciting but a little sad. My dad made this wonderful speech about me and how my mom has done such a good job raising me and my sister. Then I signed.”
Espinosa will receive an $8,000 athletic scholarship from Lewis, accompanied by a $12,000 academic scholarship, for a total of $20,000. Espinosa decided to commit to Lewis University because of the coach, personal connections, and the scenic campus. Even though other colleges offered her greater financial aid, she chose Lewis because of the positive experience she had on her visit to the campus.
“I visited other colleges like University of Wisconsin-Parkside, but the experience definitely wasn’t like it was at Lewis. I felt more connected to Lewis University because since I already knew two Lane alumni girls on their softball team, and the school has my major which is athletic training,” Espinosa said. “Plus, the Lewis coach was really nice and said so many good things about my playing since he attended some of my travel games.”
During Espinosa’s time at Lane, she has played second base, shortstop, and catcher for Lane, though she will most likely not play a lot her freshmen year of college.
“The coach at Lewis said my best shot for playing next year is third base,” Espinosa said. “I’m going to have to work really hard this summer.”
Espinosa explained that the recruiting process for softball is unlike most other high school sports. She was primarily scouted when she went to scouting events or tournaments with her travel team. She also contacted many schools herself.
“You really have to go for it and put yourself out there,” Espinosa said. “I emailed coaches from different schools; it was a lot of work. It was definitely worth it in the end.”
Lavelle’s college application experience has also been a long, tiring process since she applied to several Division I schools. Because she has visited so many schools, several of her school weeks have been cut short by two days. Missing so many school days made it difficult for Lavelle to keep up with all her homework and to make up missed quizzes and tests.
“I’d get out of swim practice at 6, do homework till 12am or 1am, then wake up for practice at 4am. I felt like a zombie walking around school,” Lavelle said.
One of the biggest meets the girls varsity swim team has been practicing for was the city championships on Nov. 10. Lavelle felt more and more pressure as the date approached. Having won the City Championship in 15 of the 16 events she has entered since freshman year, much was expected of her.
Her preparation paid off at the City meet where Lavelle broke the CPS record in the 100-meter backstroke and swam on Lane’s team that broke the record in the 200-meter freestyle relay.
Still, the success comes with a price.
“During school, I’d sometimes have panic attacks from being overwhelmed by my upcoming responsibilities,” Lavelle said. “There was a time when I was in class and I suddenly became so overwhelmed thinking about my big meets coming up, that I felt a panic attack coming on. Except this panic attack was different from other ones. I started shaking and crying and I became almost paralyzed in my desk. It was a really scary experience but I knew that I just had to mentally calm myself down and wait for it to pass.”
Lavelle thinks that the anxiety attacks only occur when a big swim event nears.
“Sometimes my nerves get the best of me the week of the big meet, but I try to step back and stay calm. Plus, I have a childhood friend I know I can call to calm me down.”
Lavelle tries to stay healthy mentally and physically to perform her best, but sometimes little incidents have their way of finding her.
When Lavelle was donating blood this year, she fainted and was tended to by a nurse who happened to be a Lane alum who was on the swim team.
“The nurse had asked me if I was on the swim team because she noticed the Lane Tech swim team sweatpants I was wearing,” Lavelle said. “I told her I was and asked her her name. The name sounded so familiar because she was the girl who had all the records at Lane before I came and broke them. Without even noticing what I was saying, I said ‘I beat all your records.’ Surprisingly, she brushed it off and we ended up having a conversation about Lane.”
Another Lane athlete, junior Sofia Pavon, Div. 572, has already committed to play soccer for George Washington University after she graduates. Pavon plays center midfielder on the girls’ varsity soccer team.
Having been scouted by universities since her freshman year, Pavon has toured Division I colleges along the east coast such as University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania State University, University of Virginia, among others.
“The decision to go to George Washington University was basically up to my mom since I was too young at the time,” Pavon said. “I probably would have chosen University of Wisconsin-Madison or Pitt, but to be honest, I didn’t really care because I knew I would do well anywhere.”
Playing since the age of two, Pavon plans to play soccer for the prestigious private school on a soccer scholarship that will cover 90 percent of her tuition for all four years.
“My mom tells me I’m so lucky,” Pavon said. “I don’t have to stress out as much about college my senior year.”