Shaelee Hawkins will be part of history at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.
The Durango High School senior signed a National Letter of Intent to play women’s lacrosse with the Mountain Lions in the team’s first year as a varsity program in 2017.
She will play for head coach Christine Hatton, who first saw Hawkins play with the Fruita traveling team at a recruiting tournament.
“We traveled to Las Vegas and California with them and got recruited by the UCCS coach. It’s a very exciting opportunity,” said Hawkins, daughter of Denise and Ty Hawkins.
Hawkins will know a few of her teammates at UC-Colorado Springs next year. Fruita Monument High School’s Taylor Haller and Danielle and Jenna Oleson also signed with the Mountain Lions on Wednesday.
Already this season, Hawkins has amassed nine goals and 14 assists. Her 23 points rank second on the team. As a junior, Hawkins finished with 12 goals and 10 assists and finished second on the team with 22 points.
The Hawkins family is no stranger to lacrosse and college recruiting. Shaelee’s older sister Tymbree signed with Fort Lewis in 2014. The younger Hawkins said she was able to lean on her sister for advice during the process.
“She taught me to believe in yourself,” Hawkins said. “I’ve always looked up to her, and I knew this was something I wanted to do.”
Hawkins considered a few other schools, but she was sold on the campus and larger setting of Colorado Springs. She plans to study health sciences.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
