Noah Risner '21 Recruiting Profile

I have always been an athlete.  I started getting involved in sports when I was five.  I love everything about being part of a team.  I feel bad for people who haven't experienced playing a sport.  They can't understand the connection and bond of teammates, the passion for the game, and rush of taking the field.  Growing up, I played soccer, baseball and basketball.  Before I started high school, baseball was my sport, until we started lacrosse.  My freshman year our school started a lacrosse program.  Honestly, we had no idea what we were doing.  None of us had even held a stick before.  We were starting at ground zero.  The great thing was, we were all starting with the same knowledge and experience, none.  We built a lacrosse team and a new high school program together.  Six weeks later we were taking the field, at home, against a team that had been playing for years.  I not only had the very first assist, but scored a goal.  The rush was indescribable.  I've been a dedicated, passionate lacrosse player ever since.  I was so disappointed that our  2020 season was canceled.  The season may have been canceled but lacrosse wasn't, not for me.  I connected with my coach all summer, constantly asking for new drills to work on.  I'm in my back yard everyday, rain or shine, playing lacrosse and improving my game. 

 I was diagnosed with dyslexia in third grade.  I hated it.  I hated struggling with schoolwork, being pulled out of class, being different.  I've always put forth the effort but I've not always gotten the outcome I've worked toward.  Being a part of the inaugural lacrosse team changed a lot of what I thought about myself.  I knew nothing in the beginning but I worked hard and gave it everything I had.  I've played varsity attack since day one.  I proved to myself that I could be successful, on and off the field.   I started to look at school differently, with more confidence and with a goal.  I knew without a doubt that I wanted to attend college and I wanted to play college lacrosse.  I would like to go into education for several reasons.  I have been a teacher's assistant for PE for two years and I love working with the middle school kids.  I see myself in so many of them.  I see their struggles and I've been there.  I connect with these kids and try my best to be a positive role model for them.  A few of the teachers have noticed a positive change in some of the kids I get to work with.  These teachers really feel my involvement has made a big difference for them.  That's what I want to do.  I want to make a difference in their lives.