Archbishop Spalding goalie Gavin McCormack has made his college choice, announcing June 23 that he will play lacrosse and continue his studies at Catholic University of America.
For McCormack, the appeal went well beyond the field. He said Catholic’s mix of academics, athletics and career opportunities made it the right place for him, with the university’s engineering program, small class sizes and direct access to professors standing out in his decision. He also pointed to Washington, D.C., where the location opens the door to internships, networking and career opportunities while he competes at the NCAA Division III level.
McCormack also said he felt a strong connection right away with head coach Peter Donley and the school’s athletic administration, noting their commitment to the program’s growth.
His commitment adds another name to the steady pipeline from Baltimore-area Catholic high schools and the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association to Catholic colleges and universities.
Catholic is coming off one of its best seasons in recent memory. The Cardinals went 13-6 this spring, finished 8-1 in Landmark Conference play and reached the conference championship game for the first time since 2022. Their 13 wins were just one short of the program record.
Donley just finished his third season leading the program, and Catholic has reached the Landmark Conference tournament in each of his first three years.
McCormack now joins a team that is building momentum while giving him a chance to chase both academic and athletic goals. For the Archbishop Spalding standout, the combination of competitive lacrosse, a respected engineering degree and internship access in the nation’s capital looks like the kind of foundation he wanted.
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