Below are responses from six senior athletes who have competed on Glenbrook North sports teams and have scholarships to continue their athletics at the collegiate Division I level next year. Interviews were conducted over the phone and responses have been edited for length and clarity. 

Casey Brown 

Niagara University Women’s Volleyball

Favorite memory of high school athletics:

Junior year when we played Glenbrook South at home. It was a really close game and we beat them by like two points in the third set.

How she decided on Niagara:

After I visited and really got to know the coach, some of the players added me on their social media platforms. I watched videos. I just really felt like it was the right place for me to be.

What she’s looking forward to most next year:

The traveling aspect of the game and just the competitiveness of our conference. 

Victoria Caparos

Xavier University Women’s Soccer

Favorite memory of high school athletics:

I think it was sophomore year, beating Glenbrook South in the Glenbrook Cup tournament.

How she decided on Xavier:

I went down for an unofficial visit, and when I was on campus I got to watch a practice and then stay the night with a girl on the team. And I just really loved the team atmosphere and how they were all really connected and stuff. I also really liked the coaches and their values and philosophy.

What she’s looking forward to most next year:

I’m most looking forward to meeting all these new people and how nice it’ll be that I’ll have a group of friends before school even starts. I’m excited to be involved in that team atmosphere and community right away.

Zander Johnson 

Old Dominion University Men’s Swimming

Favorite memory of high school athletics:

The sectional meet my senior year, just because all the seniors made state in their individual events and relays and it was at home, and it was just a lot of fun.

How he decided on Old Dominion:

I really liked the coach at Old Dominion, she’s really nice, and they gave me a scholarship which was also really nice. It just seemed like a good fit for me.

What he’s looking forward to most next year:

I’m most looking forward to meeting the team and getting to know that community.

Lauren McGinnis

Howard University Women’s Soccer

Favorite memory of high school athletics:

There was a senior last year who was injured and out for most of the season, and she finally at the end of the year got to play a couple games. And the first game she came back, she scored and I just remembered being like, “Wow, that’s so cool.”

How she decided on Howard:

Howard has always been my dream college because anyone who knows me knows I’m really into politics and stuff like that. It’s a historically black college, which is really important to me, and Howard is the top historically black college.

What she’s looking forward to most next year:

Howard’s a pretty good school and I’m excited to also get the academic side of that. Also, I’m excited to meet all my teammates.

Erin Rosdahl

Western Illinois University Women’s Volleyball

Favorite memory of high school athletics: 

This past year when we played New Trier at home and we had a huge crowd and it was just so fun to play one of our biggest rivals.

How she decided on Western Illinois:

Over the summer I went to Western Illinois’s summer camp and I immediately fell in love with the school. It’s so nice, the facilities are amazing, the coaching staff is even better and the girls there were just so nice and welcoming and immediately we clicked.

What she’s looking forward to most next year:

I’m just so excited to play college volleyball because it’s been a dream of mine ever since I was a little kid.

Brayden Roy

Bryant University Men’s Golf

Favorite memory of high school athletics:

Favorite moment was the team finishing second in state.

How he decided on Bryant:

I decided to go to Bryant because it has a great business finance program, the practice facilities and courses out there were unbelievable, and I always wanted to move out east and that seemed like my best opportunity to go professional after college.

What he’s looking forward to most next year:

Probably just the competitive aspect of it. Knowing that the journey’s just starting again and that there’s a lot to look for, I think it just gives me more of a competitive edge again and more of a purpose going to school, more than just studying, doing something else that I love as well.