Welcome to Pathlete

About Kayleigh 'KC' 

My path to college athletics was anything but straightforward.

I grew up playing basketball, and by 7th grade, it was my biggest passion. That was when Coach Fildes, my middle school basketball and lacrosse coach, encouraged me to give lacrosse a try. I had held a stick once before and hated it, but Coach Fildes convinced me to give the sport another chance. The rest is history.

Just two years later, I joined a more established travel lacrosse program. My parents supported me as we drove 60 miles each way, two to three times a week, so I could train with Coach Rick Pound, who remains a mentor of mine today.

When I entered the recruiting process, I was an underdog. I hadn't played in my first national tournament until 8th grade, had limited game film, no recruiting-focused social media presence, and very little support from my high school athletic department. I knew I was willing to put in the work, but I had no idea where to begin.

Thankfully, I had people like Coach Pound to help guide me. From there, I learned to advocate for myself. I sent hundreds of emails to college coaches, competed in as many tournaments as possible, trained constantly, worked hard academically, and listened to every piece of advice I could get.

I didn't just want to play college lacrosse–I wanted to find a school where I could have an incredible academic, athletic, and overall college experience. Finding that fit wasn't easy. I was looking for strong academics, a major that aligned with my goals, big-time school spirit, and Division I women's lacrosse.

After visiting 32 schools, I found my fit at Butler University.

I graduated from Butler in three years with my bachelor's degree while using only two years of NCAA eligibility. I then entered the transfer portal to pursue graduate school and use my remaining eligibility. I ultimately chose Rider University, where I pursued my Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling while competing for the Rider Broncs women's lacrosse team.

During my final season, I was proud to serve as a team captain, lead the team in total points, and finish second on the team in goals.

Today, I continue to be involved in lacrosse as a travel coach and love helping younger athletes grow both as players and people.

In just four years, I went from being a lacrosse player most college coaches had never heard of to competing for two Division I programs while earning two degrees. My journey included plenty of uncertainty, setbacks, long drives, emails, workouts, school visits, and lessons learned along the way–but it's a journey I'm incredibly proud of.

That's why I'm passionate about Pathlete.

I know how overwhelming recruiting can feel when you're willing to work but don't know where to start. My goal is to help student-athletes and their families understand the process, advocate for themselves, identify the right opportunities, and ultimately find a college where they can thrive academically, athletically, and personally.

You have to own your path, but you don't have to figure it out alone.