PEABODY — Peabody three-sport athlete Colleen Crotty is on to Western Connecticut State.
Crotty made her future plans official last month when she announced her commitment to play college lacrosse at the Division III school. Crotty, an attacker, also considered Regis College, University of Rhode Island and SUNY Canton during the recruiting process. She visited Western Connecticut’s campus in Danbury in October and made her decision official a few days later.
“I was looking for a school that wasn’t too big and within New England so that I could be close to home,” Crotty, a senior, said. “I wanted to attend a Division III school so that I could focus on my academics but still be able to play lacrosse.
“The environment there’s very good. They have a very good nursing program, one of the best in Connecticut. I’ve wanted to get into nursing, it’s been my dream since I was little. Still being able to play lacrosse and study nursing kind of sold me.”
Western Connecticut went 14-6-2 last season and reached the Little East Conference final.
“They’re definitely on the rise,” Crotty said. “Each year they’re getting better and better. Their records are getting better each year. The coaches are working on building the team. The coaching staff is great.”
Crotty made plenty of noise last season as a junior. She set a Tanners program record for goals scored in a season with 82 and helped Peabody to the Division 1 North state tournament. The Tanners’ season ended in a 13-12 loss to Winchester in the opening round. Peabody finished the season at 13-6.
“I honestly had no idea that I was going to break it,” Crotty said of her program record. “I was just proud of myself for being able to do that. I couldn’t have done something like that by myself. I couldn’t have done it without all my teammates and coaches pushing me to be the best player I can be. I was lucky to do that while just focusing on playing.”
Crotty hopes the Tanners can pick up where they left off next spring and, perhaps, take things further with a postseason run.
“I just hope all the girls are ready to work hard,” Crotty said. “I know that all the other captains, including myself, really want to get after it this season and prove that Peabody’s still Peabody.”
Crotty keeps a busy schedule with soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter and lacrosse in the spring. Despite her athletic responsibilities, academics, she said, remain her priority.
“Sometimes it can be a lot but the coaches are really understanding when it comes to school before sports,” Crotty said. “A lot of the teachers acknowledge that and they help the student-athletes, so it’s really not that bad. I’m pretty good with time management so it’s OK for me.”
Her current focus is set on gearing up for her final high school basketball season. The Tanners exceeded expectations in 2018-2019, reaching the Division 1 North semifinal after a 19-1 regular season.
“This year’s going to be a rebuilding year from last year,” Crotty, who plays point guard, said. “But I think we’ll work hard and we have the talent. It just comes down to how bad we want it. We have high hopes for this season.”
Tanners coach Stan McKeen has high hopes for Crotty this winter.
“Colleen’s one of my captains this season,” McKeen said. “She’s really the only returning starter from last year. She’s a very dedicated athlete, she’s very intense. She’s a tough kid. She’s a great athlete in all three sports. She battled through a few injuries last season. Intense is the best word I can use to describe her.
“Her true dedication is to lacrosse and I know that. That’s always been her sport. She’s a good soccer player and a good basketball player. She’s a great kid.”
