Lenhard excited for what lies ahead

by Matthew Ondesko: Managing Editor

College athletics is a business. Just look at the transfer portal as it heats up after the fall sports calendar. Where you commit today, doesn’t mean you won’t be playing somewhere else tomorrow or the next year.

As high school seniors start making their commitments for the freshman class of next year, there is a lot young student-athletes need to consider. They need to consider is this is going to be the place they can see themselves for the next four years.

Then there is the academic side, the NIL side and so on. There is a lot for a college athlete to consider.

As Lindsay Lenhard was going through the recruiting process she could see how much college athletics turned into a business. The process was stressful at times. During the process, Lenhard committed to one school, only to change her mind at the last second, because of the business of sports.

In the landscaper of college athletics things can change in an instance.

“The recruiting process is stressful. College sports are a business and I found that out going through the whole process,” stated Lenhard. “Even when I thought I had made a great decision, things can change quickly and I had to change with it.”

During the process, Lenhard leaned a lot about herself, she had to. When she originally committed to VCU is was because of the coaching staff. She had built a relationship with the staff, and couldn’t wait to start her college career.

Then the staff was let go, and Lenhard had to think long and hard on what she wanted to do. Did she want to stay with the school despite what happen or reopen her recruiting. It wasn’t an easy decision.

If there was thing Lenhard did during the process was she always stayed true to herself. No matter what was going to happen, Lenhard needed to be the same person she always was. That meant responding to every college coach that had contacted her over the past couple of years, and treating everyone with the upmost respect.

“I learned that I was always open and honest and stayed true to myself during the process. I had a rule that I had to respond to every single coach that contacted me during the process no matter what level the school was at,” stated Lenhard. “I was able to build relationships with coaches and this was very important when I was notified that the VCU coaching staff was let go. I was able to reconnect with schools that I had been talking to previously as well as lean on strong relationships I had built throughout the process to help me get to UNCW.”

UNCW checked off all the boxes for Lenhard when she reopened her recruiting. It had the great academics she was looking for. It had the type of coaching staff and culture she was looking for. It was the exact fit for Lenhard as she looks to compete right away next year as a freshman.

“During the college recruiting process, I valued the coaching staff, culture on the team, style of play along with the academics and location of the school,” stated Lenhard. “UNCW checked all of those boxes. The biggest part of coming in as a freshman is being prepared for the speed and physicality of the game. I am graduating early and enrolling at UNCW in January. This will give me the spring season to get to know my teammates, understand the speed of play, and acclimate to college life. In the fall, I will be able to just go and help the team be successful.”

The Spencerport, NY native had a great five year career at Spencerport High School. Last year, the team had seven DI commits, and won a state title. During her time with Spencerport, Lenhard was able to be part of five different teams.

Five different teams that had their own personalities, and team cultures. It was great for Lenhard to be part of that type of dynamic. It allowed her to see how a team can come together each year, because each year they were different.

“I feel I play in one of the best high school programs of all time. I built great relationships with my coaches and teammates. My junior year team had seven DI commits and we then proceeded to win a state title,” stated Lenhard. “High school soccer was a ton of fun. I made varsity in eighth grade, so seeing five different teams, culture, and dynamics of each team was so cool.”

For the last three years the pressure was on Lenhard to produce. Pressure can be a killer and weight down a lot of players. Lenhard knew there was pressure on her to succeed every time she stepped on the pitch. She also knew she had teammates she could count on to score goals, which took some of the pressure off of her.

She also has great soccer IQ, and can see the play on the pitch before it even happens. That’s what happens when you come from a soccer family. Lenhard’s mom played at the University at Buffalo, while her brother plays at Division I Stetson. While she can always lean on her family, Lenhard is also a student of the game. She makes sure she watches to get a different perspective of the game before she steps on the pitch.

“I did have a ton of pressure to produce goals, especially my last three years. But I didn’t have to be the one that always put it in the net. I always had teammates who were able to finish plays. I prided myself on not only scoring, but assisting as well,” stated Lenhard. “I have been around soccer my whole life. My mom played D1 soccer at University at Buffalo and my brother plays D1 at Stetson University. I have learned so much through watching film. Seeing the game from a different perspective gives me a perspective on my own play and how I can improve. From the time I was young, I was always taught to “make the right play.” Sometimes that is to play a through ball to a teammate. Sometimes that is to make a play to score myself. Winning is the most important thing.”