They must be putting something in the water in Rochester, New York.
Over the past few years, Northwestern has recruited four players from Brighton High School in Rochester, including standouts like senior Danielle Spencer and recent graduate Hilary Bowen.
“I’m comfortable sending my players to Northwestern because we know they are going to get a great education and that they are going to play for a program that values its players,” said Rich Curtis, lacrosse coach at Brighton.
Curtis’ relationship with NU began more than five years ago when Bowen was being recruited. He realized his athletes were tailored for NU’s system because they have discipline and are willing to put in their time in practice.
“Our kids work hard and that’s exactly what they expect at NU,” Curtis said. “The reason Kelly (Amonte Hiller) connects with our players is that she knows they have the work ethic to succeed.”
While NU was recruiting Bowen, the coaching staff also got a look at Spencer, who has become a formidable part of the Wildcats’ offensive attack. Spencer was glad NU chose to recruit her so she could follow her friend to the NCAA.
“Hilary and me were good friends in high school,” Spencer said. “When they saw her play, they saw me too. The coaches were able to see what I could do and I was able to get noticed that way.”
Spencer was glad to see NU get commitments from freshman Beatrice Conley and high school junior Mikaela Bozza. She said she knows her high school teammates will fall in love with NU as she did.
“I’m really confident that Beatrice and Mikaela are not only going to play well, but that they’ll love Northwestern and Northwestern lacrosse as much as I do,” Spencer said.
For Conley, it is fulfilling to follow in the footsteps of her fellow Brighton Barons. She said it was a dream come true to play with her mentor, Spencer.
“I never got to play with Hilary, which kind of stinks, but I’m wearing her number at NU,” Conley said. “But it’s awesome playing with Danielle again. I was a freshman when she was a senior in high school and she has always been a role model to me.”
NU looks around the country every year for new student-athletes, but Brighton sticks out for the way they condition their players physically and mentally. The training that players go through at Brighton mirrors the style of play practiced at NU.
Curtis said he feels that Brighton is a similar program to Northwestern because they stress work ethic and are both perennially the team to beat in their respective conferences. He added that his players have already been on a big stage, preparing them for NU.
“We have a rigorous off season and we play the best teams the area has to offer,” Curtis said. “It prepares them for NU because they already know what it means to play in a big game before they get to Evanston.”
Conley said Curtis and Amonte Hiller share a lot of tendencies that have helped her improve as a player. She said both coaches are gifted motivators and skilled instructors.
“Coach Curtis was amazing in preparing me for NU,” Conley said. “He kept us so disciplined and he put the passion in lacrosse for me because I came to practice every day wanting to get better. That’s the exact same way Kelly is at NU.”
Through her recruiting, Amonte Hiller has forged a relationship with Curtis based on a mutual love for the game. Amonte Hiller knows that Curtis trains his players well and that he will give her a fair evaluation of talent in the area.
“Brighton is a great program and their girls know how to fight,” Amonte Hiller said. “Coach Curtis is a great guy. We talk sometimes about strategy and he obviously supports his girls on the team. He’s become a friend.”[email protected]
