By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/11/09
Villa Maria Academy senior defenders and twins Beth and Kathy Young have 
committed to play together next year at the United States Naval Academy.
The Youngs did not originally intend to go to college together, but after Cathy committed in July, Beth took a harder look at the school and decided to commit just weeks later.
“After Cathy committed I signed up for some camps and I kind of had the idea we were going different ways,” Beth said. “I was always hearing her talk about it, and I had it in the back in my mind. I e-mailed the coach and said, ‘Why don’t I start looking into this?’
“After I went there, I was open-minded. It was a huge commitment, but then I was thinking the school is just an incredibly perfect fit for me. We have the same interests, and I fell in love with it.
“I love the opportunity to serve my country. It’s really blowing me away to be able to do that.”
Beth plans to major in ocean or aeronautical engineering. Cathy plans to major in engineering and then attend flight school. She will have to commit as many as three years past the normal five-year naval commitment if she goes to flight school.
“Our family has been on the Chesapeake and I’ve always been around Annapolis,” Cathy said. “I never before considered it, but once I started looking at it, I loved everything about it.
“From meeting the team and talking to all the people there, I knew this is what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to study engineering and Navy has a top-notch engineering program.
“I’m going to be graduating with something greater than a degree. You also get a degree in leadership.”
The Youngs will be the first Philly recruits at Navy for famed coach Cindy Timchal, who recently became the winningest coach in men’s or women’s history, for any division. The Haverford High and West Chester University graduate, who won eight National titles at Maryland, started the program last year and already has people talking about Navy as a future powerhouse.
“The coaching staff is incredible,” said Cathy. “The team is like a family; I immediately bonded with all the girls. I am really excited to be a part of such a new program. They are really building something.
“Plus, I will be guaranteed a job and I will be able to travel the world. Our country is in need of good leaders and the Navy experience is an experience in itself.”
Beth said the two will have to get started in the summer.
“There are so many opportunities we would not get in another college,” she said. “In the summer all the incoming freshmen report for Plebe Summer. It’s the Navy’s way of assimilating you with the rest. You get PT training and learn to sail and tyake a few classes. It’s a real awakening into the Navy.”
Before they give themselves to the Naval Academy, the Youngs have more to give Villa Maria Academy. The Hurricanes are the defending champions of the Catholic Academies League and are loaded with talent.
“We have around a dozen seniors coming back,” Cathy said. “We have a lot of experience and we’re really looking forward to the competition in the league. Our coaching staff is awesome and we’re very optimistic.”
Added Beth: “We are so looking forward to the season. We have a really tough schedule, but we’ll be ready for it.”
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