Senior Spotlight: Princeton’s Shaylah Marciano
As the spring sports season has been canceled, The Trentonian continues to recognize the girls lacrosse seniors that were denied their final season.
Shaylah Marciano is an extremely gifted three-sport athlete at Princeton High, excelling in soccer, basketball and lacrosse. Over her three seasons on the lacrosse field, Marciano has 146 career goals and167 assists. During the Tigers’ sectional title run in 2019, Marciano also had 76 draw controls and 67 ground balls.
JO’G » What were your thoughts when the season was shut down? SM » I was heartbroken, of course. I had played my last high school game and hadn’t even known it. It was frustrating to think that I couldn’t finish my career and reach goals I had set for myself but my team has been so amazing in supporting the seniors and celebrating the time we did have on the field. JO’G » You play soccer, basketball and Lacrosse, which do you enjoy the most and why?
SM» I enjoy playing lacrosse the most because it’s my passion and what I chose to continue to play into college. I have always had a love for lacrosse and playing for my high school was always so much fun. However, my junior year basketball season was pretty historic for PHS and so special to me so I really loved/enjoyed that season as well. JO’G » What life lessons have you learned from this pandemic?
SM» The message that I have taken away from this is that everything happens for a reason. While this isn’t what I wanted my senior year to look like, there will be other amazing things instead and I am super fortunate to have a really exciting future ahead of me. I have also learned the importance of playing every game like it is your last, because I would give anything to play one more minute wearing Princeton across my chest.
JO’G » When practice started what were your hopes and expectations for this season?
SM» This season I had really big expectations for our team. I definitely had my eyes set on an MCT finals run again as well as a state finals run. We were looking really strong all over the field and our team knew that we had it in us to accomplish those goals. JO’G » What are you plans for the fall?
SM» I will be attending the University of Michigan and studying at the Ross School of Business, also looking to minor in Political Science. I will also be continuing my lacrosse career in Ann Arbor as a part of the women’s lacrosse program. I am so excited to get on campus and officially be a Wolverine!
JO’G » What is your favorite Princeton High moment?
SM » My favorite moment at Princeton High was winning the state sectional final my sophomore year because it was a really close game and came down to the last minutes. We came back from a 5 goal deficit in the second half and I remember with a minute left, grabbing the ball from our goalie at basically the end line and just sprinting as fast as I could down the field. It was an amazing feeling to win a title for my school.
JO’G » If you were asked to give a speech at graduation what would your message be?
SM» My message would be to be the change you want to see in the world. There is so much going on right now and as young adults we have an opportunity to drive change and be the generation that makes a difference.
JO’G » What is the one thing the world needs to know about Shaylah Marciano?
SM» I love making other people smile and feel special. It’s the little things in life that can make someone’s day and I love doing that for the people who are consistently supporting me and my accomplishments.
Follow Joe on Twitter @j_ ogorman819 and reach him at jogorman@trentonian.com