Kara Jaynes

“I chose Carthage because I wanted to go to a small school that could provide extra accommodations and resources for academics, and where all my teachers could know me by name.”

“Being a Firebird means being loud in the stands, getting free Culver’s treats when we win against another team, and loving where you are and who you are with.”

“My favorite memory with my team was spring break. We traveled to Georgetown, Texas and competed in lacrosse tournaments with teams from all over the US. I created the best memories with the best group of girls.”

“The community is made up of people who are hard working and dedicated to having a successful future while also prioritizing their physical fitness and mental health.”

“My goalie coach, Alessandra Almendarez, supports me every day on and off the field. She provides constructive criticism to help me improve athletically and asks me about academics and my life outside of school. It means a lot to have a coach who knows so much about the sport and the goalie position but also cares deeply about me and my other goalie partner.

“Carthage Athletics also provides the N.E.S.T., which allows us to practice active recovery using the boots and massage gun equipment, and the protein station that has many flavors of protein powder for us student-athletes.”

“I recently just got on the Dean’s List this past year, which meant a lot because I have never been a student to excel in academics. It felt nice to be recognized for my hard work this year on my studies.”

“I really like the Athletic Training Room. I get to talk to the staff there, more specifically Samantha Saalfeld, our trainer for the women’s lacrosse team. She always asks how we are and provides a welcoming atmosphere in the training room. They have different types of recovery machines and gadgets that help us perform to the best of our abilities.”

“Listen to your gut. If it is nudging you to make that extra push to better yourself, listen to it. Don’t take the easy way out. Focus on your mental game and think about how you want not only your next four years to go, but the rest of your life.”