U-M Student-Athlete Spotlight: Jane Crager
3/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
March 11, 2015
On Jan. 28, U-M added five student-athletes to its third recruiting class, bringing the class to 14 players. The additional five players will now be featured in a student-athlete spotlight, breaking down the future Wolverines, on and off the field. [ Release ]
Jane Crager is a two-time varsity letter winner (2013-14) and will play her final season at The Episcopal Academy (Newtown Square, Pennsylvania) this spring. She will represent her team as a captain during her senior season in 2015.
As a junior, she helped lead Episcopal Academy to a 21-3 record and the Inter-Academic league title, en route to earning Inter-Academic first team and Mainline Athlete of the Week honors. Crager finished the season with 27 goals, 11 assists, 29 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers, leading her team in ground balls and caused turnovers. She also participated in the 2014 Under Armour Games.
As a sophomore (2013) she garnered Inter-Academic honorable mention recognition after leading her team to Inter-Academic and PIASAA titles.
In 2012, she was a member of the freshman team that completed an undefeated season. Crager led the freshman team in goals, groundballs, draw controls and caused turnovers.
Crager competed for Ultimate PA Blue club team. In addition to lacrosse, she also played four years of varsity field hockey (2011-14) and ran indoor track for three seasons (2012-14).
Collegiate lacrosse runs in the Crager family, as her father William Crager played lacrosse at Fairfield and her sister Lily will join her on the U-M women's lacrosse team next season.
Off the field, Crager is an Academic Honors student (2012-14) and was a runner-up at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy for Science.
ACCORDING TO JANE
 | Jane Crager Midfield Berwyn, Pa. The Episcopal Academy |
What attracted you to the University of Michigan?
"Michigan is a place of world-class athletics and prestigious academics. More than that, it has a tradition and legacy that is truly incomparable. In short, it is Michigan and I couldn't imagine a better school. Stepping into the Big House reppin' the block M -- what is cooler than that?"
What are your thoughts about continuing to help Michigan build its women's lacrosse program?
"I cannot wait to join a great group of girls and an amazing coaching staff in the fundamental building stages of Michigan's women's lacrosse program. I am thrilled to be a part of such a monumental aspect of the program. It's a big deal and one that I am happy to contribute to. I am pumped to make some noise in the Big House and the Big Ten."
What do you like about Michigan/Ann Arbor from what you've seen so far?
"I can't really narrow it down to just one thing. I love that the city is manageable and not too overwhelming, but at the same time it is filled with a ton of really good restaurants and awesome stores. I can picture myself doing homework in one of the multiple cafes or meeting my sisters for a nice dinner. It is really a perfect city!"
What is your favorite lacrosse moment of all-time?
"I like exciting games when a player scores the winning goal at the buzzer. But I would much rather prefer annihilating a team by multiple goals, and that is exactly what happened last season against our rivals of Agnes Irwin. There was a lot of hype around the game, but we ended up beating them 17-8, which was awesome. I face guarded their top attacker and really got in her head. It was just one of those extremely fun games where everyone played so well."
How did you first get involved in lacrosse?
"My dad played lacrosse at Fairfield and I grew up on Long Island, which is a hotbed for lacrosse. The combination of the two, on top of my extremely competitive nature, I started lacrosse in kindergarten and immediately loved it."
Do you have any talents or hobbies that you're willing to share? If so, please explain.
"I am always up for trying anything new. Whether it be surfing, skiing, sledding, hopping on a horse or any other hobby I am willing to give it a go!"
Who is your role model, and why?
"My role model is my sister, Katie. She is younger than me, but I still look up to her. Katie has an amazing sense of humor and she is so blatantly honest. Her sheer candidness is hard to deal with at times (like when she calls me out for the littlest thing I do wrong), but she tells things the way they are and I appreciate that. Plus she's a stud lacrosse player and keeps me on my toes on the field."
What do you enjoy doing when you're not playing lacrosse?
"When I am not playing lacrosse, I enjoy hiking, exploring, and travelling -- basically all things outdoors. I have been whitewater rafting, parasailing, surfing, biked over the Golden Gate Bridge and hiked in Spain. I like to meet interesting people and visit fascinating places. It's awesome."
Favorite food ... Mac N' Cheese
Favorite band/artist ... Wild Belle
Favorite movie ... Invictus
Favorite TV show ... Greys Anatomy
Favorite book ... The Circle by Dave Eggers
Favorite subject/class taken ... 21st Century Journalism
Favorite professional athlete ... Stephen Curry
Favorite place to visit/vacation ... Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Favorite sport besides lacrosse ... Field Hockey
Favorite holiday ... Christmas
• Previous Spotlight: Mira Shane
