by Tom Worgo
Kayla Brisolari
Archbishop Spalding High School, Field Hockey, Lacrosse
Archbishop Spalding senior Kayla Brisolari is a highly accomplished lacrosse player. She earned Under Armour All-America Lacrosse honors last year.
Brisolari has an eye on her future in the sport and sees herself coaching one day after finishing her college career at Penn State University. Brisolari thrives on the experience she’s gotten working as an assistant coach last summer and fall for the eighth-grade Davidsonville-based Integrity Lacrosse Club team.
She’ll also stalk the sidelines this summer.
“I love coaching and lacrosse,” the Crofton resident says. “If the opportunity presents itself, I would definitely be interested.” For now, the 17-year-old Brisolari will focus on her senior year at Spalding, where she’ll start for the fourth straight season this spring. “This will be her first year as captain, but she has been a leader on the team since she was a freshman,” Spalding assistant girls lacrosse coach Tara Restly says.
She racked up about 50 points last year.
“She is kind of a do-it-all player,” Restly says. “She plays every minute and is probably our most athletic and fastest kid. She is our hardest worker and has been that way for three years.”
The 5-foot-10 Brisolari is also a standout in field hockey.
The three-year starter anchored Spalding’s defense the past two seasons, while being named an All-County selection both years.
She helped the Cavaliers to a Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship in 2013 and capped off her career with All-Conference honors.
“When the game is on the line, you look for players who can maintain their composure, perform at a high level, and not let the pressure diminish their play,” Spalding head field hockey coach Leslee Brady said of her team co-captain. “She is exactly that kind of player. She could play Division I field hockey.”
Brisolari ran indoor track during her first two years of high school and was a member of the Cavaliers’ record- eaking 1,600- and 800-meter relay teams.
When Brisolari isn’t playing sports, she’s sharply focused on academics.
The National Field Hockey Coaches Association named her to its All-Academic team in November. She’s interested in studying marketing in college.
She carries a 4.2 grade point average, belongs to the National Honor Society, and studies long hours for environmental science, American government, and calculus advanced placement classes.
“During the week, I do nothing but school work,” Brisolari says. “I don’t go out at all. I am very serious.”
