As a nine-year lacrosse player and varsity standout since eighth grade, junior Hailey Daleo recently committed to Stony Brook University.

Hailey started playing lacrosse because her older brother Nicolas, who happened to be in high school at the time, also played lacrosse. Practicing 2-3 times a week and a tournament every weekend prepared Hailey to play varsity lacrosse in the eighth grade, “I’m very happy it paid off because it means all of my hard work was for something” she says.

Hailey provides a lot to the WHB lacrosse family. Teammate Paige Rignola said, “Hailey contributes so many factors to our games like her really good shot, aggressiveness, and view of all aspects of the field.”

In October of 2015, Hailey verbally committed to Stony Brook University, a Division I lacrosse school. Not only did Stony Brook have an interest in her, also the University of Colorado, Towson University, and James Madison University. But Stony Brook won Hailey over. “The campus is beautiful and it was the best fit for me academically.”

When committed, she felt “relieved and as if a huge weight was lifted off of [her] shoulders.” There are some requirements like keeping her grades up and getting a certain score on the ACT and SAT, and as always, “working hard and giving it [her] all-in lacrosse.”

A few words of advice were given to her by Paige: “Keep being yourself and stay determined.” Good luck, Hailey, for your bright future and remember once a Hurricane, always a Hurricane!