Patrick Reilly Starts Strong at
Furman University
Patrick Reilly hit the ground running at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. The Huntington High School Class of 2013 member was ready to go academically and athletically and he is off to a strong start as a college freshman.
“It’s a great school,” said Reilly, who was recruited to play on Furman’s lacrosse team by head coach Richie Meade. “I couldn’t be happier.” The teenager scored 24 goals and added eight assists as a Huntington junior and notched 27 goals and 11 assists last spring. He plays midfield.
Furman is generally regarded as one of the country’s premier undergraduate liberal arts colleges. It offers a comprehensive academic program and draws many top high school graduates. The undergraduate totals nearly 2,700 with more than 70 percent of the student body coming from outside of South Carolina. The students represent 46 states and 47 countries.
“The school is beautiful and the kids I’ve met are great, too,” Reilly said. “I’ve met kids from New York, North Carolina and Texas.” Furman’s enrollment is 57 percent female.
“Lacrosse is starting up to and we have high expectations,” Reilly said. “I’m ecstatic.” The teenager was heavily recruited out of Huntington High School and chose Furman after a very thorough evaluation process, including campus visits to the schools he was considering.
Reilly said that Furman is a small school and the professors are similar to his Huntington High School teachers, “but the work is harder.” He compiled a 90 academic grade average over the past four years and routinely earned a spot on the honor roll.
The teenager said playing college lacrosse represents “a big change, especially in the speed of the game. I’ve been waking up early every morning for workouts and they are not easy. But, we are trying to get ready for our first scrimmage against Duke at the end of October. Overall everything is going well and I’m enjoying it.”
Reilly’s Blue Devil career was magical. He lettered with the varsity soccer, football, basketball and lacrosse teams. The teenager earned All-Division honors in football, kicking countless extra points and field goals as the Blue Devils marched into the playoffs.
Mr. Reilly captained and helped lead the basketball team into the Section XI playoffs last winter, upsetting several opponents. He was named All-Conference. He also captained the lacrosse team, playing a key role on a squad that reached the Suffolk finals. The teenager is a two-time lacrosse All-Division honoree and a member of the 2013 All-County team.
The teenager’s classes at Furman include Environmental Science, Economics 111, Bible and Ultimate Meaning and a writing course on U.S. abolition. “The classes are a little more demanding than I’m accustomed to, but I know I’m getting a great education.”
The Blue Devil star is part of a new program that is looking to make an immediate splash in NCAA Division I. Reilly is working hard to be able to successfully respond when he is called upon to play. The coming season will mark the Furman men’s lacrosse team’s first year as a full varsity sport.