A REAL PRINCE Peterborough’s Nick Crowley commits to play for Princeton for the 2022 NCAA season
Nick Crowley has verbally committed for 2022 NCAA season
Sometimes you know what you like when you see it and you don’t need to shop around. That was the case for Peterborough’s Nick Crowley in verbally committing to Princeton University’s lacrosse team for fall 2022.
The 17-year-old long pole committed within 26 days of NCAA schools being able to contact players. There were other options, but Princeton stood above the others for the son of Robert and Samantha Crowley.
“I had a couple of offers, but Princeton is unmatched academically which is something that is important to me. As well their lacrosse program has been really successful.”
He was unable to visit Princeton because of COVID-19, but Crowley did a virtual tour. The straight-A student said he knew all he needed to make his decision. He’ll pursue either economics or law studies.
“Now that I’m committed I know it doesn’t stop here. It’s still going to be a grind. The next six years are going to be a struggle and be stressful, but I know it’s all going to be worth it in the end. I know the opportunity will be like nothing I have ever experienced. That’s one of the reason it was so easy to commit there. You’re surrounded by people who are all trying to do the same thing you are in the sense of being successful at what you’re doing,” he said.
Crowley said he wouldn’t have got the opportunity without the assistance of Tracey Kelusky and Evolve Elite Lacrosse. He’s played three years for Evolve who advocated on his behalf with top colleges and helped him get to Christ School prep school in Arden, N.C., where he’s in his second year. He is one of six Evolve players to commit this fall.
“Nick is an unbelievable athlete and very smart in the classroom,” said Kelusky. “He’s very goal-oriented. When he came to us in Grade 9, he had eyes as big as saucers and wanted this. He’s put in the work and was committed to the process. I’m super excited for him. He checks all the boxes. He’s tenacious and motivated to get to the next level and is athletic and super skilled.”
Princeton alumnus and NLL and Peterborough Lakers star Zach Currier also put in a good word for Crowley with Princeton and sold him on his experience there.
“Nick is a very talented lacrosse player in a lot of different ways,” said Currier. “He’s an offensive player in box and is really good at getting to the net and scoring goals. In field, he picks up a long pole and he’s a threat in transition. He picks up the ball off the ground better than any pole I’ve seen since my teammate Matt Neufeldt at Culver and my Waterdogs teammate Ryland Rees. He has incredible stick skills and his speed is off the charts.”
Crowley comes from a lacrosse family. His father played junior and senior lacrosse. Older brothers Cam and Ben play for the Jr. C Lakers and attend Fleming College. His sister, Claire, plays in the Peterborough Minor Lacrosse Association and attends Holy Cross Secondary School.
Nick grew up playing in the PMLA and in 2019 helped the midget Lakers win a provincial championship. His coach was Jeff Ralph who also coached him at Evolve.
He also played field at Holy Cross before heading south. He played for Team Ontario’s U17 box team and U15 and U19 field teams.
He felt Christ School would expose him to more NCAA recruiters.
“It was a really good opportunity. The compete-level and skill was a lot more competitive down here,” said Crowley. “Peterborough is pretty rich in box lacrosse, but this is field and it’s a little bit more competitive. Also the academics, like any private school, are a little better than your traditional public school.”