by Pat McAnulty
For Natalie Marek ’14, lacrosse was never just a hobby or passing fad. In her eyes, the sport, and all of the experiences it brought, were integral to her development as a person. “Playing lacrosse in high school and at the collegiate level, and being able to be part of that team fabric, really helped me to push myself, set goals, and achieve things I never would have thought possible,” she said. “I’m very grateful for all the opportunities I was given through the sport.”
When Natalie was in seventh grade, the team needed someone to step up and play the daunting position of goalie after another player went down to injury. Natalie accepted the challenge and never looked back. Natalie was just one of those players who really wanted to be great and put in the work to get there. Her dedication and loyalty to the program never faltered, and I am just so proud of what she was able to accomplish both in high school and college.
While at KCD, Natalie was the starting varsity goalie all four years of high school, helping guide the squad to four consecutive state championship appearances and a state title in 2012. Her many accolades included being a two-time US Lacrosse All-American, two-time Kentucky All-State team, and Kentucky Goalie of the Year.
At Centre College, Natalie started every game from the beginning of her sophomore year until graduation. She is ranked 18th nationally, is a two-time Southern Athletic Conference Player of the Year, a two-time IWLCA Second Team All-West Region recipient, and the program’s leader in career saves.
After graduating from Centre in the spring with a degree in history with a minor in political science, Natalie accepted a position in Washington D. C. as an intern in the office of Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “I look forward to the next chapter in my life” she said, “and I know that my experiences at KCD and Centre, particularly through my participation on the lacrosse teams, have really helped prepare me to handle whatever is thrown my way!”