Radnor’s Tori DiCarlo is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
DiCarlo, a sophomore attack, stepped up nicely when Radnor’s high scorer and draw taker was out with a sprained ankle, winning 10 draw controls in the Raiders’ recent win against Harriton, then getting eight more as Radnor defeated Strath Haven. She also combined for five goals and three assists in the two victories, then scored two more goals in a 15-11 win against Springfield April 11. “Tori is an exceptionally strong athlete who works hard and will do whatever is asked of her,” said Radnor girls lacrosse head coach Brooke Fritz. “So when we had an injury and needed someone to not only fill in but to raise the level of her play she was the obvious choice.”
Q: What to you are the biggest keys to a successful draw control?
A: For me, one of the biggest keys for successful a draw control is focus. I need to be 100 percent determined on getting the ball either to myself or to a teammate on the circle. Making sure to rotate my wrist and stick faster than my opponent to dictate the ball’s location and the timing of my jump is also extremely important.
Q: What aspects of your game did you work on most during the off-season?
A: During the fall I worked a lot on different shooting techniques in order be an able attacker for Norlax while I trained in speed and agility throughout the winter to ensure that I was fit for this season.
Q: You started playing Radnor Youth Lacrosse in 4th grade. What originally attracted you to lacrosse? Who have been your most important lacrosse mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you?
A: The popularity of the sport in the Radnor area definitely piqued my interest. As all my friends started to try the sport I also joined. Since then I’ve always had so much fun every time I take on the field, whether it be a regular practice or a big district game. Throughout my lacrosse experience I’ve had a lot of diverse teachers and one of the most influential has been my coach Brooke Fritz. Going into high school lacrosse I did not know what to expect, but Brooke saw lacrosse potential in me that I had not seen yet in myself, and she gave me a huge opportunity in being a part of the Norlax team last year. Yet, among all the tips and feedback she had provided me, the words she yelled across the field to me in one of our final games last year have stuck with me most: Keep shooting!!! She’s instilled a confidence in me to continue working no matter if it’s my best game or worst game, and I will always be grateful for that. Lauren Devlin, my other Radnor coach, has also crucially taught me that when a team works together through plays and communication we are capable of beating any opponent. I am so thankful to my coaches for all their effort in pushing my teammates and myself to be the best players and, more importantly, the best people we can be.
Q: Briefly describe for us your pre-game preparation (physical, mental) on the day of a game.
A: I make sure to fuel properly with a breakfast of peanut butter banana and a nutritious lunch, while making sure to drink lots of water throughout the day. I am huge proponent of stretching, so before the game I make sure to stretch and roll out my muscles for about 10 minutes before we start our team warmups. My team and I all wear our uniforms to school and give one another a motivating note before games to ensure that we all are accountable for goals and feel supported by our teammates. Right before the game I think about my own goals and how I can achieve them throughout the game. Then I take on the field with the mentality that I’m going to give my best and have fun playing the sport I love.
Q: You wear No. 29 for Radnor lacrosse – is there a reason you picked this number – does it have any significance to you?
A: I originally randomly picked this jersey as my soccer number because I wanted to take an insignificant number and make it significant on my back. Now I’m just making this goal a consistency in each sport!
Q: Tell us a little about your lacrosse career outside of Radnor High School (STEPS Elite, etc.) . What has been your most memorable non-Radnor lacrosse experience?
A: Playing lacrosse tournaments with STEPS Elite in the summer is a lot of fun, and I am very close with all of my teammates. But, I believe, the fun really comes in the fall when we go to a tournament in Florida. My most memorable experience was when all of our flights were delayed or even cancelled to the tournament. Our chances of making it to the first day of games were bleak. Somehow, enough of us managed to make reach our destination for our first game against Ultimate. I will never forget the heart and drive we played with in that game, despite all of our fatigue and stress from traveling. The unification of our team was unbelievable and we gave the game our all.
Q: Do you participate in any other extracurricular activities at Radnor other than lacrosse?
A: Yes! Radnor is full of awesome opportunities, and I’ve tried to take advantage of them as much as possible. I am involved with the clubs Best Buddies and Student Ambassadors. As well as last year I was part of the organization Future Business Leaders of America. I also play soccer during the fall, I am a part of Student Government, and I participate in the school’s winter musical. Through these different activities I’ve gotten to meet a lot of great people and made amazing friends.
Q: What is your favorite school subject? What do you think you might want to major in at college? Is there a career field that particularly interests you at the present time?
A: For me it’s hard to pick a favorite, as I’m really enjoying all of my classes, but particularly I have been interested in Chemistry this year. At this point in time, I’m leaning towards a medical-oriented field or a science related one. I think being a paramedic would be an incredible job to have. At the same time, I’m also interested in marine biology research.
Fun facts – Tori DiCarlo
Favorite book: The Book Thief.
Favorite author: Rick Riordan.
Favorite TV show: Chopped.
Favorite movie: Mamma Mia 2.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Empire State of Mind Remix.
Favorite team: Villanova basketball.
Favorite place to visit: Sea Isle City, N.J.
Favorite pre-game meal: Peanut butter banana toast.
Person I most admire, and why: “My mom, as I know I can always count on her to talk to about anything and she’ll be there with the best advice. She has been a huge support throughout my athletic career. My family have always been my No. 1 fans.”
Family members: parents Don and Denise, brother Justin, sister Erica.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
