Teeter had decided to go to
Louisville. Now, Chad had
to decided to stay with the
Griffs’ family or follow her
coach to a new school, with
new teammates and an un-
known of knowing if she
could even compete in the
vaunted ACC.
“To be honest, leaving
Canisius was the hard-
est decision I ever had to
make in my life. It was a
confusing, heartbreaking,
and exciting process all at
the same time. All my life
I have been lucky enough
to play at the top level that
lacrosse has to offer, play-
ing on provincial, nation-
al and Division I teams,”
explained Chad. “I had a
small window to make a
very tough choice to decide
to transfer. I will always be
very grateful for the time
that Canisius gave me. I
left with two MAAC Cham-
pionships and a class full
of best-friends that I will
have forever. I came to play
lacrosse in The States to
challenge myself and to be
tested with the best com-
petition and talent there
was in the NCAA. The op-
portunity to go to Louis-
ville gave me the chance to
play in the best, most com-
petitive conference in the
game of lacrosse. I had to
leave behind a place that I
was so satisfied and com-
placent with, but on the
flip side I was ready to be
challenged in a complete-
ly new setting with a new
school, new team and new
expectations to reach.”
Moving to a new school
was tough enough. While
Teeter was there, that’s all
Chad new. She didn’t know
much about Lousiville or
what they school had to of-
fer. She didn’t even know if
she was going to be a dom-
inating force in the ACC.
The Atlantic Coast Con-
ference (ACC) had some of
the best teams, and play-
ers, in the country. Teams
like Boston College, with
All-Everything Sam Apuz-
zo, where just some of the
challenges that Chad had
to deal with game in and
game out.
She also had to battles
her nerves and confidence.
She knew eyes where going
to on her. She was coming
from a conference where
APRIL 2019 | SportsUnion
she dominated the com- are hard to describe how
petition. People wanted to it’s like.
“There is a deep sense
know if she could step up
in competition and do the of pride for both repre-
same thing.
senting your country and
“The nerves and way I felt representing your school.
my freshman year in the There is a crazy statistic
MAAC were almost iden- that less than one percent
tical to the feelings I had of high school athletes go
my junior year in the ACC. on to play a Division I sport
During my two years in in college. But with say-
the MAAC I felt that I was ing that in DI Women’s la-
able to adjust to the lev- crosse there are around 100
el of play of competition teams with more 25 players
almost immediately and on each team. I think when
keep up to the level of play you’re apart of your col-
every game,” stated Chad. lege team, you forgot how
“Where as in my first year competitive and tough of
in the ACC I was having a process it was to make it
trouble finding consis- to DI because of how many
tency in my performances teams and players there are
game to game. It took me in the league. Sometimes I
awhile to shake the nerves think it is taken for grant-
when I was playing against ed playing on a team every
the top teams in the na- single day for four years
tion, with the top players because there are so many
like Marie McCool of UNC other people living the ex-
and Sam Apuzzo of Boston act same daily schedule
College. Some games in as you,” explained Chad.
the ACC I really surprised “When you are represent-
myself with my perfor- ing your country there is
mances and others I ended only 1 team. There are no
the game wishing I could divisions or leagues. They
have contributed more. I have legitimate competi-
think I came in hoping that tion once every 4 years.
I would have the same im- Once you get that call that
pact as I did in the MAAC you’ve been selected to rep-
but it really is a whole dif- resent your country, you
ferent playing field that are the one that has been
took me longer than I chosen out of the odds
you already defied, you’ve
thought to get adjusted.”
Even with the nerves ear- gotten even further in the
ly on, Chad knew she could game that you love than so
lean on her experience at many others that are also
Canisius, and the Canadi- very talented. For both,
Louisville
an National
and Team
team. For
“To be honest, leav- Canada, I
years, Chad
has been a ing Canisius was the have such
member of hardest
decision I deep emo-
Team Can-
tions devot-
ada
and ever had to make in ed for both.
la- my life. It was a con- The big dif-
there
ference for
crosse pro-
fusing,
heartbreak- me between
gram.
She
has ing, and exciting pro- the two is
c o m p e t e d cess all at the same p e r s p e c -
for Teeter
tive, I am
on the in- time. All my life I have apart of a
te r n a t i o n - been lucky enough to one percent
al level as
istic
play at the top level s in t a t college
well,
and
even
has come that lacrosse has to and
smaller
with some offer, playing on pro- a
percentage
hardware.
Team
Every time vincial, national and for
she is able Division I teams,” C a n a d a .
When you
to put on explained Chad.
put on your
the colors
collegiate
of Canda-
da it’s something special. jersey you are representing
Representing your country what your school stands
is like no other - and words for, when you put on your
13
Country’s jersey you are
representing every young
girl’s dreams and aspira-
tions, representing all you
sacrifices and hardships to
be standing with the other
17 best players in the na-
tion. I am just so grateful
for the opportunity to rep-
resent not only a great ACC
school but also my country
which I am so proud I’m
from.”
With all the success Chad
has had it is hard to be-
lieve she is finishing up
her fourth year of college
lacrosse already. Time has
flown by for the young lady
out of Canada. Four years
ago she didn’t know much
about the states.
Now she is wrapping up
her career - going for an
NCAA birth in her final
season. With games and
practice it could be tough
to enjoy the final year, but
Chad is making sure she it
taking it all in.
“I am going to make a re-
ally huge effort for my final
season to try and enjoy ev-
ery moment. To take every-
thing day by day, and not
be so consumed with what
will happen down the road
in the future. I really want
to make a conscious effort
to create a positive envi-
ronment for my teammates
that will help us thrive to-
gether and stay as a cohe-
sive unit, especially when
faced with challenges and
hurdles,” stated Chad. “I
really want to take the time
to soak in all the special
moments that our team has
together, and really grow
as a program from game
to game. I am very blessed
with two amazing parents
who have travelled all over
the world for my lacrosse. I
know ending my final sea-
son will be as hard on them
as it will be on me. I just
want to make them proud
every time they see me
step on the lacrosse field.
At the end of the season, I
hope that I have watched
my team grow together
through the good times
and the bad and hope that
I have made my parents
proud of who I became
these last four years. When
that happens, that’s when
I’ll know that I enjoyed my
final season of lacrosse.”