Zavitz commits to Ohio State
Keaton Zavitz had a last-minute change of heart regarding his future.
The 19-year-old St. Catharines native verbally committed to Drexel University about a year ago, but when it came time to sign on the dotted line, Zavitz began to have some doubts.
“I started thinking about it and I didn’t think I would want that to be home for my next four years,” he said. “It was the toughest call I ever had so far in my life. You’re going against your own world because you did verbally commit so it was a super tough call.”
With Drexel, a private research school in downtown Philadelphia off the table, Zavitz pivoted and last week committed to Ohio State University for a lacrosse scholarship starting in fall of 2023.
“I had a couple of other schools heavily in the running but when I actually I had the thought of Ohio State, I think that’s what tipped it the most,” Zavitz said. “When I arrived on campus, it’s unreal. It’s the best sports facilities you could ever imagine.”
Zavitz toured the campus, including the new state-of-the-art $24 million dollar lacrosse-only facility, then met with the coaches and some of the players.
Two days after coming home from the trip, Zavitz was convinced Ohio State was the place to be and committed, which put an end to a difficult odyssey.
“When I committed to Drexel pretty early I was happy with it and then obviously ended up leaving them,” he said. “I thought it would be more of a fun process again, but it sure wasn’t fun.
“It was stressful every night.”
Zavitz said the package offered was “enough to make it comfortable for me and my family” and that he feels the weight of the world is off his shoulders.
“It was pretty huge (to make the decision), I’m not that stressed anymore,” he said.
Zavitz led the St. Catharines WMKL Athletics in scoring last season with 29 goals and 80 points in the regular season and is looking forward to the 2023 campaign.
“I’m super pumped,” he said. “I’m going to just keep working and get ready for the A’s.”
Zavitz, who along with A’s teammate Mitch Armstrong won gold for Team Canada at the 2022 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championships in Winnipeg last August, is finishing up Grade 12 at Hill Academy in Caledon.
“It was kind of everything for me,” he said of the school. “You are surrounded by a lot of like-minded people and it’s very positive.”
Zavitz would also like to follow in big brother Carter Zavitz’ shoes and turn pro.
“That’s the goal,” he said.
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