Southern standout three-sport athlete Jocelyn Povlitz had a complex decision to make. The senior could have picked a Division I school to play lacrosse. Columbia University, Virginia Tech, University of Maryland, Vanderbilt University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and The College of William & Mary topped her list. Her other choice; select a school for academics.
“I was looking to play lacrosse in college,” Povlitz says. “Everybody was getting recruited during my junior year. I kind of made my mind up then. The education I get is what I will be using for the rest of my life. If I focused on sports, then my education could suffer.”
There’s no doubt Povlitz takes academics seriously. She carries a weighted 5.0 grade-point average. With those credentials and an impressive list of off-the-field activities, Povlitz has decided on going to Georgia Institute of Technology. She’s interested in being a doctor and will major in biology.
“I like helping people,” she explains. “Medicine is a very interesting field to me, and there’s so much you can do within it.”
Before Povlitz heads off to college, she’s eager to finish her athletic career with a flourish. This spring marks her fourth year as a starter in girls lacrosse—which is clearly her best sport–and she’s expected to be a team co-captain in basketball and field hockey. She’s been playing lacrosse for 12 years and got her start in the South County Youth Association program.
“She had a great fall in field hockey and I expect that to carry over,” Southern Girls Lacrosse Coach Arvak Marshall says.
The 5-foot-10-inch Povlitz could be the best player on the Bulldogs. She possesses all the intangibles any coach seeks. “She could have played in college for sure,” Marshall says. “There’s no reason why she couldn’t have played at a Division I school.”
Povlitz scored seven goals from her defensive midfield position and played “amazingly in our regional championship loss to Glenelg,” according to Marshall. Povlitz had a goal in that game, but she helps Southern in so many other ways.
“We really utilize her athleticism and speed,” Marshall says. “She is probably the fastest girl on the team, and she does all the little things you want that really help the team out.”
It sounds like the 18-year-old Povlitz could have been a co-captain last year. Marshall and his players appreciate her leadership skills. “Last year, we lost a lot of seniors, and she really stepped up to lead the defense on and off the field,” the coach says. “She kept everybody in line.”
Povlitz also thrives on defense for the Southern girls basketball team. The power forward has led the team in rebounding and blocked shots in her first year as a starter. “She is the backbone of our team,” Southern Girls Basketball Coach Michael Doyle says. “She is the leader of leaders She has amazing court vision and communication skills. Her teammates feed off her confidence. She makes up for a lot of defensive mistakes. Some players think they have a layup and she comes out of nowhere to swat away the ball.”
On the field hockey team, Povlitz started for three years and played in the county’s first-ever Senior All-Star game.
Povlitz stays busy off the field, too. She’s a member of the National Science Honor Society, volunteered to feed people at a homeless shelter in Baltimore, and tutors classmates. The Congress of Future Medical Leaders selected her as the Maryland State Delegate and she serves as a representative to the county’s Student Athletic Leadership Council.
“She is an awesome kid and defines the word student-athlete,” Doyle says.
