ST. THOMAS – Antilles School senior Madison Roy signed her letter of intent to play soccer at Lesley University during a ceremony Friday in the Henry L. Kimelman Library.
Roy, 18, was recruited by Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts to play on their division three women’s soccer team as a defender come fall. At Friday’s event, she made the decision official by putting pen to paper, as friends, family, coaches, and teachers looked on.
Kim Ballowe, director of middle and upper school at Antilles, kicked off the ceremony with a speech praising Roy’s hard work and commitment to her sport, as well as the natural talent Roy displayed since her arrival at Antilles six years ago.
“I remember our athletic director, Mark Daniel, sharing with me, ‘you know, you're going to see this kid play at high levels one day,’” Ballowe said.
That same athletic director, Daniel, also spoke at the event. He said he realized the type of talent Roy had while coaching her in basketball during middle school.
“She always plays with passion,” Daniel said. “She has a way of collecting her thoughts, collecting herself and pulling the team together and doing what's in the best interest of the team. And being a team player is going to be a valuable resource that you're going to need in college.”
Roy plays for three teams in the Virgin Islands – Antilles School, Massey Academy, and the Virgin Islands Women’s Senior National Team, where she was the youngest player to be called up to compete at the age of 16.
These accomplishments were applauded by soccer legend Mia Hamm in a pre-recorded video message shown on Friday.
“I hear you're an amazing soccer player and absolutely crushing it in training,” Hamm said in the recording. “You're the youngest player to compete on the U.S. Virgin Islands Women's National Team, and I hear the opportunity is in front of you to play collegiately. So, embrace that because it's due to your hard work and dedication.”
The recruiting process began the summer before Roy’s junior year of high school, but she said at that point she was already thinking Lesley University was the right fit.
“I’ve had my heart set on Lesley University since the end of my sophomore year,” she said.
Roy, who plans to major in psychology, said her decision to commit to Lesley University extended beyond the private university’s soccer program, and that the school’s strong academic programs in the field of psychology as well as the proximity to family were big factors in her decision.
“I feel incredibly supported by each and every one of you here; I always have,” Roy said before signing her letter of intent. “I'm really grateful to be able to play collegiate soccer, and I would not be able to do it without the support from the Virgin Islands.”
