Prowl: How did you start playing lacrosse?

Deptula: “My Dad and I saw lacrosse on TV one day. We knew nothing about it, but thought it was cool, so I started playing that year in 5th grade (10 years old).”

Prowl: What positions do you play, and what are the key responsibilities of that position?

Deptula: “I play center midfield, and I take the draw. For center midfield, I play both offense and defense. Then there is a lot of technique for the draw, which is an important part of the game because it decides possession after every goal.

Prowl: How do you prepare physically and mentally for a game?

Deptula: “Physically, I prepare for a game by making sure I am eating a hearty dinner with lots of carbs the night before. My favorite is chicken parmesan, then, stretching and getting a good night’s rest. Mentally, I like to try to get into the zone by watching some NCAA highlights, listening to a large variety of music occasionally, and making sure to limit overthinking.”

Prowl: What are some of the most important skills for a successful player and team in lacrosse? 

Deptula: “Teamwork and communication are definitely the most important things for a team. That, and having good stick skills and speed are very important for lacrosse so that the game can move quickly, which makes it more fun!”

Prowl: What is the biggest challenge you face as a lacrosse player and how do you overcome it? 

Deptula: “The biggest challenge faced as a lacrosse player, especially for me, is making sure that you are giving yourself a physical and mental break from the sport in between games and training when you can build them in. There are always so many new things to learn and improve upon, and lots of content on social media to follow, which can be overwhelming if you don’t manage it well but also fun when you find the right balance.”

Prowl: What do you think sets lacrosse apart from other sports? 

Deptula: “Women’s lacrosse is such a unique sport because of its speed, strategy, and creativity! The strong and growing community behind it as well is very positive and inspirational, making it a great team sport and super exciting to be a part of!”

Prowl: How do you balance your academic and athletic life?

Deptula: “Balancing academic and athletic life can definitely be challenging. Depending on the number of extracurricular activities you do on top of sports and school, keeping organized is very important. I make sure to keep communication open with my teachers and coaches as well.”

Prowl: What’s your biggest achievement in your lacrosse career so far?

Deptula: “My biggest achievement in my lacrosse career so far is definitely my involvement in the youth lacrosse community and the example that I strive to set for the kids. I have coached a couple of teams so far and have loved every minute of it.”

Prowl: What motivated you to keep pushing yourself on the field? 

Deptula: “I really love the game, and I have a lot of goals for myself for the future in women’s lacrosse so that is very motivating but ultimately my team…I am a competitive person, so when that game momentum shifts and pure energy is created on the field with my teammates, that motivates me to keep going because it is a lot of fun and the team is there to support each other!”

Prowl:  What is your goal for the future of your lacrosse career?

Deptula: “In the future, I strive to get a lacrosse scholarship to a Division 1 school, along with having the opportunity to play as a freshman. I also want to continue to grow as a leader in the sport, and coach a college team, along with hopefully having the opportunity to play Pro and on the USA team!”