The choice to attend Springfield College wasn’t the end of the decision-making process for Jake Ross.
The Williston-Northampton graduate had to make one more determination — which sport, or sports, to play at the collegiate level in the fall.
His main focus throughout his life was always basketball, but he also played lacrosse. He played both sports at Northampton High School and during his time at Williston.
But during his post-grad year at Williston he experienced some mental fatigue with basketball and wanted to try something new.
So Ross decided to play football for the Wildcats. Ross played wide receiver and excelled, making the All Western New England team. In one game, Ross caught 11 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns.
After several visits to various colleges and conversations with coaches, Ross decided on Springfield. Proximity was important to Ross, and the school’s balance of academics and athletics was also a factor.
“It’s close to home and has a great reputation,” Ross said. “The coaches showed they cared and showed they wanted me. I believe we can have a very good team.”
When it came to sports, basketball was a given. For his freshman year at least, Ross will also play lacrosse for the Pride. There will be no football in 2016 for Ross.
“Basketball is where my heart has been for the last seven years,” Ross said. “I wasn’t even sure I was going to play another sport. But I am going to treat each sport the same and put in time for all of them.”
Ross said that if adding football is feasible, he would consider playing again after his freshman year.
“Williston taught me how to balance studies and sports,” Ross said. “It was good for me to learn how to balance my time this year rather than my first year of college. It’s all about knowing if I can do it at the college level as well.”
There is also the fact that football is a violent sport, with high-speed collisions occurring on every play. Eliminating the sport that hits the body hard was the best choice.
“I told myself it would be smarter to save my body than sacrifice it to football,” Ross said. “After playing this year I realized the toll it can take on your body and carrying into basketball season that wouldn’t be a fun thing for me.”
According to Ross, the Springfield lacrosse and basketball coaches were OK with him playing two sports. Many players at the Division III level play multiple sports.
Ross ended his basketball career at Williston with a second consecutive NEPSAC Class A championship. The tournament recognized Ross as the most outstanding player.
In lacrosse, Ross was named first-team NEPSAC during his junior and senior season as a defenseman.
In football the Wildcats went 6-2, while Ross formed a potent combination with fellow Northampton native Ian Ostberg.
Ross set a school record with 841 yards receiving in his only year playing football.
