Green Hornets Athletes Visit Duke University

Severna Park athletes past and present convened on the lacrosse field at Duke University in November.

When the Green Hornets soccer team Marci Flynn manages, Severna Park FORCE Green, was scheduled to attend a tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina, she decided to make the most of the trip.

“Just kind of out of the blue, I emailed Kerstin Kimel, who’s the Duke women’s lacrosse coach,” said Flynn, noting that several members of FORCE also play lacrosse. “She wrote back right away and said, ‘Yes, please come to our practice.’”

When Kimel asked for volunteers on her team to show the younger players the ropes, she may have had a few in mind. Delaney Ott, who attended Severna Park High School, and Cameron Christie, a Severn School graduate, are currently on Duke’s roster.

“I obviously volunteered,” said Ott, a graduate student who transferred from the University of Georgia. “It was fun and cool to meet the girls and parents who were from the same area.”

Ott, Christie and another teammate led the way for the eight Green Hornets athletes, who traveled to North Carolina a day early for the opportunity.

They observed a Duke lacrosse practice, toured the training facilities and were given insider access to Cameron Indoor Stadium, which is typically closed to the public.

The Green Hornets players were also able to chat with coach Kimel and get her advice on topics such as recruiting.

“I think it really struck home with them that this is what college might be like,” Flynn said.

For Ott, who plays goalie for the Blue Devils, hosting players from the Green Hornets was a walk down memory lane.

“I played (for) Green Hornets since I was sticklets pretty much, so it was cool to be able to see where I came from and where I am now, and hopefully it was a little inspiring for them to show them there is a path for them … to play at a higher level,” Ott said.

The feeling was mutual.

“It was really cool to see girls from Anne Arundel County make it to that level of play! It shows me how far you can get in your lacrosse career if you work hard,” said seventh-grader Emma Dooley.

It turned out that touring Duke was just icing on the cake – Severna Park FORCE Green won their tournament.

“It was absolutely the best weekend - spending time with the Duke women's lacrosse team, being a Cameron Crazie at the women's Duke basketball home exhibition match and winning the soccer tournament,” said seventh-grader Elizabeth Locher.