People often ask Sara Stagaard why she chose to go to school at Grand Valley State, a college in Allendale, Michigan, with a Division II womens lacrosse program. It’s cold and snowy there for nearly half of the calendar year.

The 2016 graduate of Parkland High School found the school to be a hidden gem.

“It was the best decision I’ve ever made,” said Stagaard. “The new facilities, big campus feel, and the school pride was a big factor into why I chose Grand Valley. My teammates and coaches are what made playing there so special to me. I couldn’t have asked for a better college experience. I chose GV because they play at a high level and we can compete for a national championship. The school loves its student athletes and has made getting a degree and playing a great experience.”

And it just so happened to be a great decision in terms of on-field production for the Lakers. Not knowing what to expect or how she would continue the success she experienced in high school, Stagaard worked hard to prepare herself for increased competition.

“Coming into Grand Valley from Parkland I was worried about the competition,” Stagaard said. “I wanted to immediately make an impact on the team. I made sure to follow the strict summer workout packets and when I got to Grand Valley I would make sure to either go to practice early or stay after to get a few more shots in. My coaches and I had open communication, so I always knew what I needed to work on or what I was doing well. It was easy to ask them for new drills or what else I could do to help the team.”

Stagaard was an All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Second-Team honoree last year, scoring a career-high 40 goals and adding five assists. She has 79 career goals, including five in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. The Lakers were 3-1, having played their last game on March 5, a 17-5 win at Maryville.

“I didn’t know that my last game was going to be my last so I played it just like I would any other game,” said Stagaard. “The saying, ‘play every game like it could be your last,’ really came into my mind once this all happened. As cheesy as it sounds, it’s true and I hope that this experience teaches all athletes that lesson.

“I was lucky enough to have one of my last games be against the number one team in the country, Lindenwood, and we ended up beating them. Having that big win with my teammates and coaches was one of the best feelings I’ve had playing lacrosse. We made history for the program and I’m so glad I got to leave my legacy.”

Stagaard saw a lot of success on the field as a Parkland Trojan. She was a two-year captain, an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference First-Teamer, and totaled 99 points on 78 goals and 21 assists her senior season. She was also a member of Trojan teams that won multiple EPC and District 11 titles.

“Coming from Parkland, I had a lot of great experiences,” Stagaard. “I was captain in high school, which helped me learn my leadership roles and eventually helped me to become captain at Grand Valley for two years. Coach Dawn [Cipolla] coached me since the third grade and helped mold me into the lacrosse player that I am today. She pushed me and the team to practice at a college level, which helped transition me into the college game.”

Stagaard will be graduating in May with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences. This fall, she will be attending Bloomsburg University to pursue a masters in business administration, while working as a graduate assistant for the Huskies women’s lacrosse team.

“I am super excited to take what I have learned throughout all of my experiences playing from high school and college to teach other players and to make an impact on them as student athletes,” said Stagaard.