Meg Hoglund knew lacrosse was the sport for her at age 8.

“That first game, I fell in love with it,” she remembered.

Just four years later, Meg was competing with club teams and had set a goal to play in college—an ambition she fulfilled earlier this month when she committed to Howard University, an NCAA Division I school in Washington, DC.

“I kind of can’t believe it yet,” said Meg. “I have to pinch myself. I get to go to this awesome school and play my favorite sport.”

Did You Know
Rowland Hall supports student-athletes across a wide range of sports, including those not offered on campus, so they can pursue high-level athletics while staying fully engaged academically. Learn more.

Meg’s journey to Howard started nearly a decade ago. An active child, Meg had participated in several activities by the time she was in third grade: basketball, soccer, dance, gymnastics. But none of those activities clicked like lacrosse, which she tried when a family friend started a team. Looking back, Meg thinks her connection to the sport was a combination of the confidence she felt on the field and the joy of being part of something gaining momentum in the state.

“It was the time lacrosse started becoming popular in Utah,” said Meg. “Everyone was so new at it, and we were all doing it together. No one was better than anyone yet. It was so cool to be doing something that was newer.”

By age 10, Meg had fully devoted herself to lacrosse and was playing up to two years above her age group. Salt Lake City didn’t have a lot of teams at the time, so she traveled across the valley to compete on the Olympus and Brighton lacrosse clubs. By 12, Meg was ready to take her play to the next level. “I wanted more competition, had decided I wanted to play in college, and started taking it very seriously,” she said.

As a prospective athlete in a state with fewer established lacrosse pipelines, Meg worked closely with her coaches and parents to ensure she’d be visible to colleges. She joined increasingly more competitive clubs and, because Rowland Hall doesn’t offer lacrosse, used the Utah High School Activities Association’s co-op rule to play for Highland High, her school of residence. She also attended showcases and tournaments, including high-level events where she’d be seen by coaches, and emailed coaching staff she wanted to build a relationship with.

Collegiate recruitment timelines vary by sport. For women’s lacrosse, much of the process takes place during a student’s sophomore year, when coaches begin identifying and tracking prospective players, and their junior year, when coaches can initiate recruiting contact beginning on September 1. Junior year is also the time when coaches, particularly at the highly competitive D1 level, begin extending verbal offers to their top recruits.

In preparation for the recruitment process, Meg spent her summers attending showcases and tournaments around the country, where she’d be seen by coaching teams. Her hard work paid off: on September 1, a school she was interested in emailed her. And while it was a good opportunity, said Meg, she wanted to wait until the end of the tournament season before making a decision.

Not long after, one of Meg’s coaches encouraged her to look at the fall tournament schedule for Howard, one of her top schools, and in late November she flew east to play in front of Howard assistant coach Abby Hampson. Meg couldn’t meet with the coach due to a Thanksgiving-driven recruiting shutdown, but she and her parents took advantage of the trip to explore the school’s stunning DC campus. They stopped by the admission office for a map and began chatting with two undergraduates in Meg’s intended major (biology, pre-med track), who offered to show them around.

“It was so unexpected and the first sign of the kindness of the community,” said Meg, who, as a Rowland Hall Lifer, cherishes a close-knit, supportive learning community. She also remembered how excited she felt when talking to the undergraduates about opportunities she’d have to deeply explore her cultural heritage, an incredible benefit of studying at one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities. As she walked around campus, Meg had a feeling almost identical to what she felt when she first played lacrosse. “I fell in love,” she said.

Things went quickly from there. The next week, Howard’s head coach, Karen Healy-Silcott, and Coach Hampson reached out requesting a video call with Meg and her family between December 1–20. They scheduled the call for December 1, and during the conversation Meg was invited to verbally commit by Christmas. She accepted on December 4.

Since committing to Howard, Meg has felt many emotions: excitement for reaching her goal, contentment about her college decision, and, of course, gratitude for the many people who supported this journey: her mom and dad, coaches, teammates, and friends. She’s also grateful to her teachers and the Rowland Hall community for helping her balance her athletic dreams with an exceptional education.

Rowland Hall has prepared me so well. There’s never been a time where I felt like I couldn’t get anything done because of my sport.—Meg Hoglund, class of 2027

“Rowland Hall has so much support worked in,” said Meg, including small classes and an emphasis on relationships with teachers who are well-versed in working with elite athletes, including those enrolled in Rowmark Ski Academy. Over the years, Meg has collaborated closely with instructors to set expectations, and has learned to communicate clearly and carefully manage her time—skills she’ll need in college.

“Rowland Hall has prepared me so well,” said Meg. “There’s never been a time where I felt like I couldn’t get anything done because of my sport, and I'm confident I'll be able to manage a high-level sport and classes at college.”

Meg’s story is a clear example of how Rowland Hall views athletics: as an extension of, not a trade-off from, academic excellence.

“Meg took full advantage of the best of both worlds, pursuing rigorous academic standards at Rowland Hall while competing in lacrosse,” said Athletic Director Zack Alvidrez. “She is a true success story of someone who reached her goals through hard work and by fully embracing the process of becoming great. It’s been amazing to watch her growth and passion, and I have no doubt she will continue to find success at Howard.”

Congratulations, Meg—we are so proud of you. Go Bison!

Athletics