The Collegian
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Lindsey Frank wins RVA Sports Award

<p>Lindsey Frank playing field hockey. Photo courtesy of Richmond Athletics.</p>

Lindsey Frank playing field hockey. Photo courtesy of Richmond Athletics.

University of Richmond senior Lindsey Frank was named the Kings Dominion Female Athlete of the Year at the second annual RVA Sports Awards on Feb. 4. 

Frank plays two division one sports at UR. She is a midfielder for both the field hockey team and the women’s lacrosse team.

“I just thought it was a super special night,” Frank said. “I’m glad that I was able to be a part of it.”

In her acceptance speech, Frank thanked many, including her parents, family, friends, coaches and trainers. She also thanked her teammates, whom she said nothing would have been possible without. 

Frank’s field hockey coach, Jamie Montgomery, wrote in an email to The Collegian that Frank’s skill and attacking mentality were incredibly special. 

“[Frank] is a great athlete and a fun-loving teammate,” Montgomery wrote. “Her contagious smile and love of sport will have a positive, lasting impact on our team.”

Frank’s lacrosse coach, Anne Harrington, cited the hard work Frank has put in.

“I think that the other people within [Frank’s] category have had great accomplishments as well,” Harrington said. “So [Frank] was with a very competitive field there, but [I] was just really excited for her to be honored because she is really a special athlete that performs at such a high level in two sports.”

Frank owes it to Montgomery and Harrington for allowing her to play two sports at UR, she said.

“Being able to come here and then letting me play two sports in itself means a lot to me,” Frank said, “... and I owe it all to them, honestly.”

Playing two sports in college was something Frank always wanted to do, she said. 

“I was just, when it came down to it, super indecisive, and I couldn’t imagine myself giving up one or the other,” Frank said, “and it worked out that Richmond really welcomed that, which I was super fortunate to have.”

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Frank is an anomaly when it comes to playing on two athletic teams at UR. Along with playing sports all year, she also balances schoolwork and life outside of sports.

Despite the busy schedule, however, Frank has found her schedule experience super manageable, she said.

“When it comes down to it, in the fall and in the spring, I just play games all the time, and it’s kind of fun,” Frank said. “I miss the offseason workouts that my teammates love so much, but I found it to be manageable. You just have to stay on top of school work and make a daily schedule.” 

In the fall, Frank commits 100% of her time to field hockey and in the spring, Frank commits 100% of her time to lacrosse. This way, Frank is focused on the season at hand, Harrington said. 

“I think everyone’s always excited to have her when she rejoins that team and she brings a lightheartedness and some goofiness to practice that helps people relax and have fun while they’re competing,” Harrington said. “So we love it when we have Lindsey back at practice.”

Over the course of her field hockey career at UR, which concluded in October of last year, Frank scored 17 goals and had 16 assists.

As a member of the lacrosse program, on the other hand, Frank has scored 97 goals and assisted on 47.

As this will be her last season in a Spiders uniform, Frank is soaking it all in, she said.

“I think I’ve always lived by this, but finding the fun in things and enjoying it, being surrounded by my best friends, playing the sport I love at a place that I love,” Frank said. “I just think the overall, the overarching theme of the season is just have fun and win.” 

As for her sports career post-UR, Frank intends to use her fifth year of eligibility at another school, she said. 

Frank and the women’s lacrosse team take on the Queens University of Charlotte at 11 a.m. Feb. 11 for the inaugural game of the 2023 campaign. 

Contact sports editor Jimmy James @jimmy.james@richmond.edu

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