Last fall, Centennial lacrosse star Claire Whipkey announced her commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Hofstra University. A year later, when current Junior Caroline Cudzilo was faced with the same decision, she chose to join her teammate and close friend at Hofstra. For any high school program, producing a D1 athlete is no small achievement, let alone two, yet the CHS girls lacrosse program has done just that.
Whipkey, a current senior, and Cudzilo, a current junior, have both been on the varsity lacrosse team since their freshman year at Centennial. While underclassmen on varsity typically take a lesser role and learn from the upperclassmen, that was not the case for either Cudzilo or Whipkey. They were each tasked with critical roles from the jump, and they delivered when their name was called. Cudzilo was awarded All-County second team in each of her first two seasons, and looks to continue that trend heading into her junior season. Whipkey also received All-County honors in her first two seasons, but took a leap forward in her junior season, scoring a team-high 42 goals and being named All-County first team.
This past spring, the dynamic duo led Centennial to a 2025 county championship berth against Glenelg High School, where they unfortunately suffered a tough 14-6 loss. Despite defeat, Whipkey and Cudzilo shined brightly in the high-pressure atmosphere, each scoring 2 goals against Glenelg’s stifling defense that went on to make the 2A state championship game. The Eagles’ second place finish in the county was still a huge accomplishment and something they hope to build on for success in seasons to come. This loss also gives Claire and Caroline motivation for next year’s team to get over the hump and bring home a county title.
With their impressive lacrosse resumes, it’s no surprise that Whipkey and Cudzilo gained substantial attention from college coaches. Due to NCAA rules, D1 lacrosse coaches are only allowed to reach out to recruits on or after September 1 of their junior year. This rule makes the summer before junior year a crucial time for recruiting. Whipkey spent the summer of 2024 playing with her club team, M&D, in order to maximize her recruiting potential, as club lacrosse plays a huge role in the recruiting process. September 2024 was a busy month for Whipkey, as she was tasked with deciding the right college for her. She ultimately decided on Hofstra, noting the appeal that led to her decision.
“Hofstra has a great lacrosse program with experienced and smart coaches. The school and team offer many great opportunities in and beyond college. The team and school atmosphere were something I really valued.” An additional perk, Whipkey adds, was the fact that “Hofstra is in a great location close to the beach and New York City.”
Similar to Whipkey, Cudzilo played for the same team as Whipkey this past summer. Coincidentally, Cudzilo is on the 2027 M&D squad. She participated in a plethora of showcases and tournaments this past summer to establish her name in the lacrosse world, preparing for the day coaches could make contact on the magical date of September 1.
In addition to contact, September is also when recruits are permitted to take both unofficial or official visits to schools where there is mutual interest between the school and the recruit. Cudzilo took this opportunity to explore Hofstra to see exactly what it has to offer. For Cudzilo, Hofstra appeared to be the right fit for a multitude of reasons.
“As soon as I walked onto campus, I knew that Hofstra was where I was meant to be–all of the opportunities that I’d have, the team and coaches, and the competitive lacrosse was perfect for me.” Cudzilo also adds, “I didn’t really have a dream school or an idea of a school that I wanted, but Hofstra felt like home to me.”
Contrary to what people may think, Cudzilo shares that she and Claire “never talked about the possibility of going to college together,” but she mentioned her commitment that they were “both so excited.”
Although it was never initially discussed between the two, both Whipkey and Cudzilo are now thrilled to continue playing together for an additional three years. Cudzilo shares, “Claire makes me a better player, pushes me to be the best version of myself, and I’m very grateful that I get to play three more years with her.”
Whipkey was also ecstatic to hear the news of Caroline’s commitment. “I am so excited to play with Caroline. Ever since she came to Centennial, we have worked very well together on both the field hockey and lacrosse fields and have had lots of fun. I can’t wait to bring our high school connection to college.”
The future Hofstra tandem would not have gotten here without the countless hours put in perfecting their craft, a true testament to their work ethic and dedication to the sport. In addition to their hard work, Whipkey and Cudzilo also credit the lacrosse program at Centennial for shaping them into the players they are today.
“Centennial lacrosse has allowed me to become a leader from early on in my high school career,” Whipkey explains. “Coming onto the team as a freshman, many seniors and captains were injured, allowing me to step into an important position on the field. As a sophomore, I became a captain and was able to grow my leadership and communication skills. Centennial lacrosse has made me more confident in being a vocal leader.”
Similarly, Cudzilo also discussed her progression as a more outspoken player in her time at Centennial. “Centennial lacrosse has helped me become a better leader on and off of the field. Lacrosse wise, I’ve become better at being vocal on the field, and I’ve learned how important it is to lift everyone up and make everyone around me better. As a person, I’ve grown to be a problem solver and learned how to advocate for myself.”
Many similarities have paired Claire Whipkey and Caroline Cudzilo together over their time together at Centennial. Being on varsity lacrosse since freshman year, playing field hockey, and repping the same club team have led to great chemistry and an even better friendship. They will now share one more commonality, the privilege of continuing their lacrosse career with the Hofstra Pride. Whipkey and Cudzilo are ready to conquer their next chapter, the best way they know how: together.
