On Sept. 8, senior Sophie Lane announced her commitment to play college basketball at Gettysburg College via Instagram.
Lane, a standout guard for Westfield’s basketball team, has built a strong reputation as a hardworking athlete and key contributor on the court throughout her career.
Lane has been playing sports since first grade, learning the game from her dad, who first introduced her to basketball. After starting out on the JV team as a freshman, she quickly proved herself and went on to play varsity for the rest of her high school career.
Known for her competitiveness and consistency, Lane has put up very impressive numbers: 687 career points, including 437 this past season alone. She has also tallied 342 rebounds and numerous assists, blocks and steals. Her career high came in a game where she scored 27 points and she has maintained a strong 84 percent free throw percentage.
Her favorite memory came during the second-seeded Blue Devils sectional championship run, a moment that plays an important role in her high school career. This past season, they won the North 2, Group 4 sectional title after defeating top-seeded Bayonne, 62-55. Lane led the way with 17 points. “I feel like all of our hard work really paid off and we got so much closer as a team,” Lane said.
When it came time to choose her college, Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, PA, stood out right away. “I decided to commit to Gettysburg because the facilities and the campus are beautiful and the coaches were always so supportive of me,” Lane said. For Lane, it was the right distance from home and it checked all of her boxes on and off the court.
Gettysburg College is a strong liberal arts school where she will be majoring in psychology. Competing in NCAA Division III as part of the Centennial Conference, the Bullets are coming off a dominant season. They won their fourth consecutive CC championship. “I’m excited to play for Gettysburg because of its history… they won the conference last year and I’m just excited to be a part of that culture,” she said.
Her father is equally proud of her accomplishment. “Her work ethic is the biggest one. She always wants to get better and she never takes shortcuts. She is also very competitive and pushes herself to improve every day,” he said.
He believes that she will bring energy, toughness and a team-first mentality on the court and a positive attitude, kindness and work ethic off the court. “She cares about people and that will make her a great teammate and an important part of the program,” he said.
For Sophie Lane, the future at Gettysburg looks bright. With her dedication, talent and drive, she is ready to make her mark at the next level while continuing to grow as both a player and a person.
