By Nico Merickel, M.S. Class of 2026
Most college athletes would agree that the word family resonates deeply with them. When you are on a sports team, you naturally grow close through countless practices, games, postgame dinners, and road trips. You spend most of your waking hours with the same people. I experienced that firsthand during my four years running cross country and track in undergrad. Many of my teammates became like brothers to me.
This sense of community is true for the University of Georgia women’s lacrosse team, too. They have seen massive success recently, winning regionals (SWLL) and finishing third at WCLA Nationals in Wichita, Kansas, last year. But behind the trophies, there is a quieter story unfolding, one of teammates who have found a way to blend their Catholic faith, friendship, and lacrosse that feels effortlessly.
Journey to Georgia
Kay, Alex, and Natalie all came to Georgia for different reasons. Kay Page, a senior and native of Maryland, wanted something beyond the University of Maryland, where most of her family went. After visiting Athens, she fell in love with the campus and community, ultimately choosing Georgia over Clemson University, because, as she put it, “I just felt a bigger pull here.”
Natalie Orwat, a sophomore from Centreville, Virginia, had always dreamed of going to a big Southern school. “Georgia just felt right, like I was supposed to be here,” she said.
Alex Young, a senior who grew up in northern California, was searching for an out-of-state adventure. “Everyone told me to apply to Georgia even though it wasn’t really on my radar,” she laughed. “When I visited, I loved the campus, the weather, and the people.”
These women came from opposite coasts and backgrounds, but each brought their faith with them and eventually found each other through it.
Mia, Kyla, and Meg each found their way to Georgia with that same blend of ambition, community, and belief guiding them. Mia Pisani, a senior from Vienna, Virginia, said she always knew she wanted to go to college in the South, and UGA felt like the perfect balance between academics, involvement, and distance from home.
Kyla Caimano, a junior transfer from Marietta, Georgia, said she was looking for a new challenge and a place that felt welcoming. “I wanted a bigger school experience where I could challenge myself academically, play the sport I love, and build new friendships,” she said.
New Jersey native and junior Meg Heflin said UGA gave her a chance to experience something new while still staying connected to her faith. “Having people in my corner supporting me both on the field and in my faith really makes this place feel like home,” she said.
Coming to The Catholic Center
Going to Mass together at The Catholic Center did not start as a formal plan. Natalie said it just happened naturally. “In the first few weeks at Mass, I kept seeing some of my teammates, and it was really comforting,” she said.
Over time, they started coordinating through a group chat to see who was going to which service each weekend. “It’s something that brings us together in a way that wouldn’t have happened if we didn’t share the same faith,” Alex added.
Mia said that going to Mass together “allows us to grow closer and hold one another accountable.” Kyla, who transferred this year, said one of the reasons she chose Georgia was because “places like The Catholic Center make you feel so at home and included.”
Alex explained that The Catholic Center has become her constant. “When I’m overwhelmed, the Catholic Center is always my anchor. It’s the one thing that keeps me grounded.”
Meg added that being able to share her faith each week with teammates “has been such a rewarding experience that has brought me closer to my faith” and has made her feel like she’s found “a whole new layer of support and love.” Kay agreed, saying, “I was raised Catholic, so having teammates who believe in something bigger than themselves has been amazing.”
Faith on and off the Field
For all the women, Sunday Mass is not just another routine. It is a reset button and a reminder that they are part of something greater than the game.
That sense of perspective carries over into the rest of their lives as student athletes. Balancing school, travel, and training can wear anyone down, but their faith gives them balance and direction.
“When things don’t go my way, I just remind myself it’s part of God’s plan,” Kay said. Natalie echoed the same idea. “If something goes wrong or I don’t do well on a test, I just picture God smiling down, proud that I tried my best.”
Mia shared how her faith helped her through one of her toughest challenges: tearing her ACL during her freshman year. “It was hard to come back physically and mentally, but as I’ve grown in my faith, I’ve learned to trust God and pray for healing and health,” she said. “Sometimes, when the conditioning gets tough, I’ll even pray the rosary in my head.”
For student athletes juggling constant motion, that kind of stability matters. Faith does not erase chaos but gives it meaning.
That same foundation shows up on the field. “Before every game, we say, ‘Give it to God.’ It’s a reminder that we’re not in control—He is,” Kay said.
Natalie’s pregame ritual is simpler: she listens to worship music, usually Champion by Carrie Underwood. “It helps me feel thankful for movement, for my body, and for my teammates,” she said.
For Alex, it’s about honoring someone who shaped her love for the game. “My high school coach passed away when I was a sophomore. He was really religious, and now I play for him. It keeps me grounded and reminds me this is bigger than myself.”
Striving in Sport and in Sainthood, Together
For each of them, faith does not compete with lacrosse. It completes it.
Sharing that belief with teammates has deepened their relationships beyond the sport.
“Faith just strengthens that connection,” Alex said. “It’s another layer of trust.” Kay added, “It’s easy to drift toward people who get it, we’re all balancing school, sports, and everything else.” Together, they have built a community that celebrates both faith and friendship, and they even plan to start a Bible study through the FOCUS ministry that is open to anyone, Catholic or not.
As the new season approaches, the team’s goals are ambitious. They want to win SWLL again and bring a national championship back to Georgia, but their bigger focus is on how they get there.
“We want to win, of course,” Alex said, “but it’s more about how we do it, together, and for something bigger.”
Kay added, “Beyond winning, it’s about making sure our culture stays strong.”
Natalie summed it up best. “We’ve built something special here. The success is great, but it’s the friendships and faith that make it all worth it.”
Mia highlights the reward of having such close teammates in lacrosse. She said, “We push each other to be the best version of ourselves, on and off the field.”
These girls gather for Mass every Sunday at The Catholic Center, and several of their teammates attend church elsewhere. No matter where they worship, faith has become part of the heartbeat of this team. In a sport built on speed and intensity, these girls have found something steady, a belief that grounds them and reminds them who they are truly playing for at the end of the day.
As Kay said, “Faith gives you perspective. No matter what happens, you know it’s not just about you.” Or, as Natalie put it with a smile, “We play for Georgia, but we also play for something higher.”