Sanchez to continue lacrosse career at UW-Eau Claire

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The high school lacrosse season of Taylor Sanchez ended May 16 when Fallbrook High School's girls lacrosse team lost the Warriors' CIF Division II semifinals match to Our Lady of Peace. Her lacrosse career will continue in college as a member of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire team.

"I'm really excited to play lacrosse in college. I'm playing at a different level. I'm excited to meet a new team," Sanchez said.

"Her athleticism and her dedication to the sport has enabled her to play at the next level. She brings maturity, leadership, along with athletic skills to her next team, and she's going to be a very valuable player for them and we couldn't be prouder," said Fallbrook girls lacrosse coach Debbie Berg.

Sanchez was also considering Malone University in Canton, Ohio, which is in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is in Division III and is a member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. "I liked the atmosphere of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire better," she said.

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has an exercise science major, and Sanchez plans to utilize that opportunity. She would like to become an athletic trainer after completing college.

Girls lacrosse and boys lacrosse have been CIF San Diego Section sports since 2002, so neither of Sanchez' parents played high school lacrosse. Her mother, Nikki, is a 1999 Fallbrook High School graduate who ran cross country and played softball for the Warriors. Her father, Adam, attended San Marcos High School and competed in cross country, soccer and swimming for the Knights.

Sanchez is the oldest of her parents' eight children. Three Sanchez siblings participated in Fallbrook High School athletics during the 2022-23 school year. Kacey Sanchez was a junior during 2022-2023 and competed in field hockey, water polo and swimming. Carter Sanchez was a 2022-23 freshman and was part of Warriors' football, basketball and track and field programs.

Eau Claire is approximately 85 miles from Minnesota's Twin Cities area, which includes Minneapolis and St. Paul. Taylor Sanchez was in kindergarten when her family moved from the Twin Cities area to Fallbrook. She had attended Live Oak Elementary School after moving.

In addition to being on Fallbrook's girls lacrosse team, Sanchez also played field hockey and water polo for the Warriors. Sanchez was a midfielder for lacrosse. The Valley League coaches named her to the all-league second team as a junior and to the all-league first team for her senior season. Fallbrook is in the Palomar League for field hockey, and Sanchez was on the Palomar League first team as a senior.

Sanchez will become the first former Fallbrook High School girls lacrosse player to play in college. "We're working with Taylor to replicate her success," Berg said. "We're excited the program is growing."