Before Lucy Jeffers became a Cornell University lacrosse commit and a USA Lacrosse All-American, she was a seventh grader on a club practice team. Years later, the two-sport varsity captain has left a lasting impression on Redwood athletics, helping field hockey win three Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) championships and building her lacrosse career through consistent work and love for the game.

Jeffers began playing lacrosse in third grade, but her path to becoming a Division I athlete was not immediate. In seventh grade, she joined STEPS California, a club lacrosse program.

“I was the worst player on the team,” Jeffers said. “I made the practice team to start. [I] definitely took that year [on the practice team] to get a lot better.”

As Jeffers continued with STEPS, lacrosse became more than a sport she enjoyed. The program introduced her to the college recruiting process. This led her to commit to Cornell, drawn by the school’s values and balance of athletics and academics.

“I really value the culture that [Cornell] has. [Especially] the program’s value of attitude and

effort,” Jeffers said. 

On April 14, Jeffers suffered an ACL injury during a lacrosse game against Marin Catholic, forcing her to support from the sidelines. 

“Right now the things that [I] can control are [my] attitude and effort,” Jeffers said. “When I’m back, I’m just going to be so grateful to play.”

As Jeffers prepares for Cornell, her high school career shows how far passion, steady work and a desire to improve can take an athlete.