PEABODY — Sometimes, things don’t always happen the way you originally planned. Just ask Peabody High senior Ally Bettencourt, who recently announced she has committed to play lacrosse for the Vassar College Brewers.
When she first toured the Poughkeepsie, NY campus, Bettencourt was looking to play soccer. She soon thought about also playing lacrosse, but after discussing the matter with her father, Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt (a Peabody Athletics Hall-of-Fame member), she decided to play lacrosse her freshman year, but may, “if adjusting well,” consider playing soccer as well.
“I knew I wanted to play either one, but when I first started to look at schools, I was thinking soccer,” she said. “I was just figuring out which was the perfect fit. I went through Vassar’s pre-admission process to see if I could get into the school, so the lacrosse coach already knew I was going to get in. She had seen the video clips I sent and said she had to see if there was a spot for me. She texted me a few days later and told me I had a spot if I wanted it.”
Bettencourt applied early decision and found out in mid-December she had been accepted.
“I was really excited because committing is a big deal within itself, but Vassar is an extremely vigorous academic program. Getting that acceptance was a sign of relief,” she said.
Bettencourt considered several other schools including Hamilton, Trinity, Colby Bates, Holy Cross, Providence, and Villanova, a school Bettencourt said was her “reach.”
Vassar stood out because of the feeling she had while on the campus.
“Obviously, the academics are so strong, but it also has a special feeling and atmosphere just being there. Everyone was working hard and you could see they were driven and wanted to be better. It was so uplifting and positive. I could just tell it was a totally different feeling than the other schools I looked at and was really beautiful,” Bettencourt said. “I knew it was a great academic school and it had a great connection with other Ivys when it comes to grad school and I felt it was a great school to set me up for the future.”
In addition to playing three sports, Bettencourt’s plate at Peabody High is chock full of activities. A two-year member of the Model UN club, she is a two-year president of the National Honor Society. She recently became involved with the Dirty Hands charity, an organization that focuses on providing support to teens struggling with mental health issues.
“It’s all about teens helping each other,” Bettencourt said.
Bettencourt is currently ranked No. 12 in the Class of 2025. By the time she graduates in June, she will have earned 12 varsity letters and will have been of the few elite student-athletes to have served as captains of three sports. She credits Peabody High lacrosse coach Michelle Roach with encouraging her to continue playing in college.
“I got a huge push from coaches and teammates to keep playing, especially coach Roach,” Bettencourt said. “She is one of the main people who pushed me to pursue lacrosse and was included in all my emails to schools as a contact. She could have said no, but was very accommodating, so having so many opportunities makes me so grateful.”
One of the fondest memories Bettencourt will carry with her to Vassar happened last winter when five Bettencourt first cousins – Ally, sister Taylor, and three cousins Isabel, Abby, and Lizzie – were on the basketball court at the same time.
“That was unreal. I have always grown up playing with cousins and siblings, but at first, I didn’t realize how cool it was,” she said. “Honestly, I didn’t realize it until the game ended. I’ve played with them since, I think, I was 5 playing in the Peabody league, so it’s so cool to look back on it.”
Bettencourt isn’t sure what she will major in, but is leaning toward something that will lead to a career in the medical field and/or health sciences or biology.
“Vassar is liberal arts, so I don’t need to declare right away. My true love is working with children, maybe as a pediatrician working with babies. The medical field is beautiful – I love it so much. The thought of saving tiny lives is so inspiring. I’m not 100 percent locked into a path, but I know I want to be in the medical field so I can help people. I’m going to Vassar with an open mind.”
For now, however, Bettencourt’s focus is on basketball. She missed much of last year with an ankle injury and was in a boot for more than a month before returning to action in the state tournament. The injury bug resurfaced during summer league basketball when she broke a thumb and couldn’t play.
“It feels great being healthy and on the court again,” she said. “Being on the sidelines is not a position I would choose, so being able to play again is such a good feeling. I do feel things are starting to click, but we are definitely adjusting to each other and starting to click. Ball movement has been really good and we have been able to find the positives. One of the things we are working on is realizing that while we are fast, we need to get comfortable slowing it down to avoid turnovers. If we continue to improve, we could do well in the tournament. That’s the goal.”
