NSA’s Crenshaw makes Jacksonville U. official

Published 5:34 pm Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Nansemond-Suffolk senior Will Crenshaw, less than 24 hours after leading NSA’s offense with more than 100 rushing yards in a state semifinal victory on the gridiron, signed a National Letter of Intent and a scholarship offer to play lacrosse at Jacksonville University on Tuesday.

With many teammates and classmates attending a ceremony in Nansemond-Suffolk’s library on Tuesday afternoon, Crenshaw made his long-time goal of playing lacrosse at the NCAA Division I level a reality. Crenshaw joins 2001 graduate Kyle Waters, who went on to be a four-year letterman for Rutgers, as the only Saint lacrosse players to earn Division I scholarships.

“We’re all very proud of him. We know how hard he’s worked throughout his lacrosse career here,” said Don Birmingham, NSA’s director of college counseling.

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“Only about two percent of high school athletes earn college scholarships,” said Birmingham.

Crenshaw, who played at the varsity level starting part of the way through his eighth grade season, has been an attacking and goal-scoring leader for the Saints ever since.

Crenshaw verbally committed to Jacksonville a couple months ago. Jacksonville is starting a men’s lacrosse program this coming spring and will go right into NCAA Div. I competition. The Dolphins have some of the best lacrosse programs in the country, such as Mount St. Mary’s, Denver, North Carolina and Duke on their inaugural schedule.

“Absolutely, it’s a great feeling to be going down to a place where I really want to be there and I feel I can succeed there,” said Crenshaw.

“To have a lot of support here, it’s great, and I’ve had support the whole time while I’ve been working toward the goal of playing Division I lacrosse,” said Crenshaw about the friends, family and school faculty on hand for his signing.