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[Lynn Burke]

Grafton's Wicher commits to Santa Clara
By Jennifer L. Williams
jwilliams@dailypress.com

YORK -- Grafton's Lindsay Wicher is a coveted commodity in soccer - a left-footed player who can hold down the left side of the field on defense while attacking offensively from the back.

She patrols that position for the Richmond Strikers, but moves up to forward for Grafton. The diversity strengthens her skills and helps both teams.

Highly recruited, the junior committed to national power Santa Clara on Feb. 4. She still had two full seasons to hone her game and work toward Grafton's career scoring record of 110 goals, set by Caitlin Marple.

Wicher has 81 goals, including 11 this season.

"When I get to play forward for high school, it really just lets me keep my attacking abilities fresh," Wicher said.

Before cell phones and computers dotted our domestic landscape, college coaches had to call a player's house to make any recruiting headway. Now it's' 24/7 text messages and e-mails, which becomes a daily chore for the much sought-after.

"The whole process started around junior year, right at the start," Wicher said. "And it was all exciting because it was new to me, and of course, that kind of attention feels really good and it makes you feel like everything has finally paid off.

"But over time the letters and stuff, and coaches text you all the time, saying can you call me? When I finally made the decision, it was a big relief because I didn't have to go and do all the phone calls every night. It was a big burden that was finally done with."

She said the process is starting with younger and younger players.

"And it's a shame because you don't get the chance to look at every school you want to," Wicher said.

Her final list consisted of Virginia Tech, Richmond and Santa Clara. It came down to Tech and Santa Clara, and although California is far away, she couldn't pass up a chance to play for a consistent winner.

She tried to delay her decision a little longer, but was told the Santa Clara offer couldn't be left out there.

"The soccer opportunities that Santa Clara offers me are better than anywhere else I could possibly go other than UNC Chapel Hill," she said. "But they've actually beaten UNC the past four out of five times, and they just show a lot more opportunities than I thought Tech would offer me. And when I stayed there overnight, the coaches really went over how many players on their team have gone to national levels.

"So when it came down to it, it was just the soccer opportunities. It's what I really wanted."

Although nothing is finalized until she signs in February, Wicher said contacts from coaches have died down. She is comfortable with her decision and doesn't feel she will change her mind.

"By her committing and making that decision now, that frees her up to just focus on what she loves to do, which is play soccer," said Grafton coach Don Samuels. "She can focus on playing soccer, working with her club team and continuing to hone her skills at that position and working with her high school team.

"I was very happy that she doesn't have to feel that stress and that pressure anymore."

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DAILY PRESS PHOTO BY ROB OSTERMAIER