St Charles sends three
more players into the college ranks next year, with the announcement this week that Midfielder Nick Campana, Attackman Paul De Bord and Goalie Sean McGushin have signed letters of intent with NCAA programs.
 Nick is bound for St Leo University near Tampa. St. Leo teams compete in the Sunshine State Conference, which recently was recognized for the highest Academic Success Rate of 24 NCAA D2 conferences in the country. The Lions men's lacrosse team competes as a member of the Deep South Conference.
"This is an opportunity for me to further my education and to play lacrosse at a high level," says Nick, who will major in criminal justice, one of St Leo's academic strengths. The Florida sunshine also appeals to him.
Nick is a two-year varsity letter winner, was named StC JV Offensive Player of the Year in 2007, and is a member of Team Illinois.
Paul is headed to perennial Division I lacrosse powerhouse Towson University, near Baltimore. The Towson Tigers play in the powerful Coastal Atlantic Conference. Towson’s non-conference opponents have traditionally included lacrosse stalwarts and NCAA Champions Johns Hopkins University, the |
University of Maryland, and the University of Virginia.
Towson University has also been recognized by U.S. News & World Report in its listing of America’s Best College Sports programs for its outstanding graduation rate of student-athletes.
A member of the Varsity since his freshman year, Paul enters his senior season of lacrosse with the goal of leading his team to its third straight trip to the Illinois State Lacrosse Final Four Championship.
"Paul is always striving for greatness on the athletic field," says Head Coach Andy Thompson. "He is so motivated and disciplined in his preparation. Towson University is fortunate to have Paul coming aboard."
“I am very appreciative of the opportunity that Coach Tony Seaman and the Towson staff have given me," says Paul. "Towson will not only allow me to pursue my dream of playing with and against the best collegiate lacrosse players in the nation, I look forward to receiving an outstanding education at this great institution.
“I feel blessed to have this opportunity,” he adds.
Sean, who is bound for Division 1 Bellarmine University in Louisville, is the first Illinois high school goalie to commit to
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a D1 program and one of a relative handful nationally to be offered D1 scholarships.
"There are nearly 600 high schools in New York and Maryland alone that play lacrosse, so being one of about 45 goalies to be offered a Division 1 scholarship is a great honor," says Sean. "I have a lot of people to thank for helping me get to this level."
The Bellarmine Knights currently compete in the Great Western Lacrosse League with other lacrosse powershouses, including Notre Dame, OhioState, the University of Denver and Air Force. The Knights play a strong nonconference schedule, and open the 2009 spring season against Duke and Maryland.
Forbes Magazine recently recognized Bellarmine as one of the premier universities in the nation by ranking it in its Top 100 Colleges and Universities.
"I think Bellarmine is the best fit for me because I will get a great education and have an opportunity to contribute immediately to the lacrosse team," adds Sean, who has been the St Charles Varsity goalie since his freshman year, helping the team compile a 43-16 record and reach the state semifinals twice. Sean is a two-time First Team All Conference pick, and was named the team MVP in 2007. |
