Having played soccer since the age of three, Chloe Park began her high school years at Rosary Academy with the hopes of making a change to a new sport. In lacrosse, she found a perfect fit.
“I wanted to try something new, and so I felt that lacrosse was a really great new thing to try,” says Park.
Having played as a forward in soccer for years, Park adapted easily to the attack position.
“I really like playing offense because…I already have that offensive mindset,” says the senior and four-year varsity player. “I really like focusing on just getting the ball in the net. That’s my favorite part.”
Park enjoys the fast pace of lacrosse and how it forces her to think on her feet. Voted a captain by her teammates two years in a row, the 18-year-old aims to be the role model her former captains were to her. Her commitment to her team has made Park a tremendous asset to Rosary’s lacrosse program.
“Chloe’s willingness to work hard at every practice and game, lead by example in drills and consistently be the one to offer words of encouragement to her teammates are some of the things that set her apart,” says Rosary head lacrosse coach, Chas Hamann. “She is very well liked and respected by her teammates because they are genuinely friends and they enjoy each other’s company on and off the field. She is very coachable and is always asking questions to try and understand everything in order to make her and her teammates better. She is constantly looking out for others and honestly wants to see her teammates do well and improve.”
Lessons learned for Park from lacrosse include team cooperation in the midst of varying personalities and navigating the highs and lows experienced throughout a season.
“Loss is hard for everyone,” says Park, “but I think that reaching those lows helps you appreciate the wins and the highs in the game definitely more because you’ve experienced the lows.”
The Fullerton resident serves on Rosary’s ASB as Ambassador Lead, the perfect fit for someone who has such deep respect for her school.
“I think it’s the best way for me to give back to my community because I love Rosary so much,” says Park.
Park plans to study political science and hopes to continue playing lacrosse in college at either the intramural or club level. Her faith helps to keep her centered in all aspects of life, and she continues to look to her former teammates as inspiration, as they were the ones who provided Park her first sisterhood moments as a Royal.
“They’ve always been my role models for me,” says Park, “and I hope that I can achieve great things like they have. I feel like they set really good paths for me to follow.”