Photograph by Tony Lewis, Jr.
This Severn School senior excels on the gymnastics floor, lacrosse field, and in the classroom
Bronwyn Bolton looks to the past before she talks about her future in lacrosse. Bolton, a Severn School senior, says playing one sport (gymnastics) and participating in a form of dance (ballet) before she started attending high school made her an elite lacrosse player.
The three-sport athlete developed a tremendous work ethic by practicing up to seven hours a day, four or five times a week for First Class Gymnastics in Crownsville.
“In gymnastics, you never settle, and you have to be the best you can possibly be,” Bolton explains. “That translated over to lacrosse very well.”
Bolton, a defensive midfielder, participated in ballet for the Washington School of Ballet across six years. Outstanding footwork and positioning came from that activity. “I was always on point,” she says. “It really helps with your feet, leg strength, and change of direction.”
Bolton, a two-time New Balance and Under Armour All-American, blossomed into a coveted college prospect. She made the U.S. U-18 National development team in August. “Probably about 1,000 from around the country tried out for the national team,” Bolton says.
Bolton, who carries a 4.27 weighted grade-point average, will attend Stanford University in Northern California on an academic and lacrosse scholarship. By the time she graduates Severn, she will have taken eight advanced-placement classes, including five this school year—something few students do.
“I have only ever taken AP and honors classes,” Bolton says. That may be a reason the Naval Academy, Villanova, and Virginia Tech universities also aggressively recruited her. She signed a National Letter of Intent in mid-November and verbally committed to Stanford in September of 2023. Her career goal is to be an orthopedic surgeon.
“I picked Stanford because it offered the best mix of academics and athletics,” Bolton says. “I want to pursue something in the medical field like sports medicine. That’s what I was seeking. I am looking past college. Lacrosse is for the next four years. The lacrosse team also plays at a high-level.”
The 5-foot-5 Bolton excels in games because of her athleticism, speed, high lacrosse IQ, grit, and superior stick skills. Her reputation centers on shutting down an opponent’s leading scorer.
“She has everything it takes to be a great college player,” Severn Girls Lacrosse Kathy Rudkin says. “She is such a great athlete. She really puts in the work outside of practice and games. She gets better on her own.”
Playing three years for M&D Lacrosse, which refers to itself as the No. 1 club program in the country, also has been crucial to the development of Bolton’s skills. The 17-year-old competes for nine months a year for her club team and plays in about 30 games traveling up and down the East Coast for tournaments and games. She suited up for Chesapeake Lacrosse Club (three years) and Sky Walkers Lacrosse program (one).
For Severn, Bolton, a three-year starter, plays a defensive midfield position. She consistently ranked among the Admirals leaders in ground balls and caused turnovers.
“What separates her from other players is her battery,” Rudkin says. “She is like the Energizer bunny. She never stops going hard or takes a play off, even when we are down. I really love that about her.”
Bolton, a Severna Park resident, also plays varsity soccer as a fullback and swims for Severn. She specializes in the butterfly and swims a leg on a relay team that finished second in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland B Conference championships in 2023. On top of those things, Bolton started a club at school called Morgan’s Message, which helps athletes with mental health.
“She is a three-sport athlete, and we only have a few of them at Severn,” Rudkin says. “Her athleticism pretty much separates her from everyone in her age group. She stands out in every way. For her to be able to juggle academics and athletics at a high level is so impressive.”
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