Avery Young has spent much of her collegiate career navigating challenges that most athletes hope to avoid.

A lifelong athlete, Young didn’t always know lacrosse would define her path. After starting in gymnastics, she made the switch at age 10, a decision that quickly stuck.

“I remember my first game, I was like, ‘Wait, I really like this,’” Young said. “And then a year later, I was scoring all the goals.”

That early success carried her through high school and eventually across the country, from New Jersey to Eugene, Oregon, a move she never initially envisioned.

“I always thought I was going to stay on the East Coast,” Young said. “But Oregon presented itself, and I loved it. It’s given me such a different perspective on life.”

That perspective would become even more important once her college career began. Young suffered a torn shoulder labrum her freshman year, requiring surgery. The following season, she tore her ACL. The back-to-back injuries forced her to miss significant time and reshaped how she views both the game and herself. Now back on the field, Young is playing some of the best lacrosse of her career, but the journey back wasn’t easy.

“I just got cleared about a month ago, which is so insane,” Young said. “And just giving myself the grace of the big point of (what) it is like being able to play, and the rest of it will come as time comes.”

Her return included a moment she had envisioned long before it happened: her first goal back.

“I actually thought about that moment before (ACL) surgery,” Young said. “And so that’s been like such a motive for me. And then it happened. And in the clip, I always watch it back and I cry every time.”

Young’s role as an attacker fits naturally with her play style. Originally recruited as a midfielder, she transitioned early in her college career, a move that stuck.

“I’m much more creative than I am strategic,” Young said. “In my end of the year meeting, my freshman year, I was like, ‘you know, obviously, I was like an attacker this season, but do you want me going back to midfield?’ And they were like, ‘“No,
definitely not. We love you as an attacker.’”

Beyond her on-field performance, Young has embraced a leadership role as an upperclassman. After spending much of her first two seasons sidelined, she used that time to observe and grow.

“Being injured gave me the ability to step back and think about the kind of leader I want to be,” Young said.

That leadership extends into Oregon’s team culture, which she describes as deeply rooted in connection and support.

“We’re definitely a family all the time,” Young said. “Our coaching staff does a really big job of honing in on, ‘We’re not going to be successful unless our culture’s good.’”

That sense of family has helped ease the transition of living far from home. While her parents and sisters remain on the East Coast, Young says her teammates have become her second family, es- pecially living alongside many of them in what they call “Lax Row.”

“There’s never a time where I’m alone,” Young said. “It’s so much fun.”

Off the field, Young’s passion for sports extends beyond playing. Initially interested in sports broadcasting, her perspective has shifted toward storytelling and the broader impact of athletics.

“After college, you know taking my personal experience in sports, especially being injured through most of my career, it’s just given me such a different perspective on how important sports are and why they’re not just like, ‘Oh, games we like to play,’” Young said.

Her experiences, especially through injury, have shaped that outlook. She also credits her faith as a central part of her resilience and motivation.

“My faith and everything and the reason why I play the game,” Young said. “If I did not have my faith, there’s no way I would have ever gotten through what I’ve been through in college.”

On game days, that mindset begins early. From prayer and reflection to pregame routines and team traditions, Young approaches competition with both focus and gratitude.

“When we start playing, I feel like it’s just like, ‘Go.’ There’s not even time to think,” Young said.

As Oregon continues through a competitive Big Ten schedule, Young remains focused on growth, both individually and as part of a team with high expectations. With multiple years of eligibility remaining, her future in the sport is still unfolding. For now, she’s focused on making the most of the present.

“In a year from now, I’ll be a completely different player than I am today,” Young said. “And just giving myself the grace of the big point of it is being able to play, and the rest of it will come as time comes.”