Boden Clark '23 Recruiting Profile

In February 2020, I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).  I can imagine this is not what you want to read about a student-athlete who aspires to play at the collegiate level. However, Albert Einstein said, “adversity introduces a man to himself.”   Fighting for my life the last two and a half years has forced me to develop and define my character.  I am competitive, aggressive and you won’t find anyone else with a stronger will or commitment. Taking nothing for granted, I attack each day with more fight and fire than ever. My athleticism, dogged determination and warrior mindset makes me a versatile asset. 

My primary positions are FO and SSDM.  While undergoing daily chemotherapy, I finished this season with an 80% at the X with 82 GB, 5 goals and 2 assists.  I have a cumulative 3.2 GPA with the last four semesters on Honor Roll for 3.75+ GPA.

I am Team Captain for Peninsula High School in Gig Harbor, WA.  I set up mentorships between upper & lower classmen and team dinners.

This season I was elected for both FO & SSDM positions on the All-Conference first team.  At the face off X, I win with hand speed, technique, communication with my wings, unpredictability on exits and with a tactical approach to each competitor. 

My play-style is aggressive, strong and gritty. I am committed to being the hardest working player on the team, on and off the field. I have a developed lacrosse IQ as a player, coach and official.  Most importantly I have the hard-won knowledge that nothing can stop me; my tenacity has no limits. I am a year-round multi-sport athlete having played lacrosse for 6 years, wrestled for 10 years, played football for 9 years and competitive martial arts/jujitsu for 4 years.

I began feeling sick towards the end of 2019 while wrestling Varsity for Peninsula High School.  I was leading the team in takedowns and reversals until my rib was fractured during the championship match of the district tournament.  The fracture should have been a minor set-back but I did not recover.  Lacrosse came right on the heels of wrestling season.  I gave 100% of what I had to give and attended every practice until the day I was taken to the ER for blackout pain. I was immediately placed on a morphine pump and it was discovered my blood contained 97% cancer cells.

The high-risk leukemia required two and a half years of chemotherapy.  The first phase of treatment was eleven horrible months of intense, debilitating treatment cycles. I spent over a third of that time hospitalized. The remaining days at home were generally spent sleeping on the bathroom floor or in bed. My grades dipped pre-diagnosis and I had to reduce my course load through the first year and a half.  I made the difficult decision to extend graduation another year to be in a better position, off chemo, to take my more rigorous classes and prepare for college.

When lacrosse began last season I had just completed the first treatment phase.  I still had to complete a year and half of "maintenance treatment" to keep me in remission. My current regimen is daily chemo and periodic lumbar punctures with spinal chemo. The rapid and awful decline from the leukemia, followed by the serious and debilitating effects of chemo decimated my body, I was on/off crutches, the chemo had eaten away 3 inches of height, and I did not have the strength to get through warm- ups.  My team treated me like I was one of them, didn’t take it easy on me or lower any expectations. Their encouragement and support fueled my battle on and off the field. I have not missed a single conditioning, captain’s or regular season practice since being released from the hospital. I earned a starting position on Varsity and ended the season as the highest percentage FO in the league.

I am on the home stretch with my last day of chemo being June 4^th.  I still have side-effects that make it difficult to play but nevertheless I show up to practice everyday ready to fight for a starting position.  To face an abyss of fear and experience great loss is a priceless education.  I am grateful for teammates and coaches who have taught me the value of commitment, sacrifice, compassion and leadership.

Thank you for your consideration!  Boden Clark