Covering the Field: Introducing Bea Woodruff

Bea Woodruff is intense. In a good way. At least that’s what first year Champlain Valley Union (CVU) head girls lacrosse coach Becca Weiss said when first asked to describe her senior captain. “Bea is extremely focused. A key player and strong low defender, Bea understands her unique position. She is not only the last line of defense she is the first line of attack. It’s what she does so well.”

Raised in Charlotte, Woodruff’s family includes parents, Margaret and Charles, older sister Carolyn, a Haverford College student, younger sister, Ella, a Charlotte Central School eighth grader, two cats, Ollie and Jinx, and a dog named Bode.

“I actually started playing lacrosse in the second grade,” Woodruff began. “I had a boys stick and was one of the few girls that played on that coed team. Soon afterwards I made the switch to soccer but didn’t really get into that either. When some of my friends switched to lacrosse in fifth grade I followed suit. I started to play lacrosse again in sixth grade through the rec department.”

Looking to improve her skills and willing to take advantage of her opportunities since middle school, Woodruff played as much competitive lacrosse as possible including summer camps and off season clinics. Her preparation paid off when she made the varsity team as a junior.

A two-year varsity lacrosse player, Woodruff describes her strengths in this way. “I have a lot of drive. I’m very focused on game day and I’m not afraid to get in the thick of things. I guess you’d call me the aggressive one,” she shared. Coach Weiss agreed, “Bea is serious about lacrosse. She just loves the sport.”

“This may sound trivial but beating Rutland in the lacrosse season opener is one of my proudest moments,” Woodruff remarked. “We always seem to lose to them, and when we finally beat them this year, it gave me hope that this would be a different season.”

And it has been, although it has nothing to do with Woodruff’s game day ritual. “I always wear my camo crocks,” she said. Rituals are obviously unnecessary for the team’s success and this year’s 5-5 regular season record to date, a vast improvement from its one-win season of a year ago, is testimony to that fact.

In addition to lacrosse, Woodruff is involved in one of her favorite pastimes, singing with CVU’s Madrigal Singers. “Singing is something that I really love to do,” she commented. Also involved in National Honor Society, French Club, Model U.N., and Princeton Model Congress, Woodruff is gainfully employed at Cookie Love. “It’s my summer job. I just started but I will be able to do almost everything: make the creemees, bake the cookies. I’m enjoying it so far.”

Accepted early decision to Colby College where she hopes to study economics or government, Woodruff is ecstatic about her future. “In the fall I visited a few potential colleges. When I arrived at Colby, I knew it was the place for me.” Woodruff knows a good fit when she sees one, and so I. It’s clear to me that next year Woodruff will combine her drive and upbeat personality with her musical talents to become a valuable contributor at Colby. And that dear readers is music to my ears.