Jaylin Locke didn't grow up in a house where sports were an option — they were part of the air she breathed. Her father, uncle and brother all played football, and her mother was a collegiate track athlete. "Sports has just been something that's been ingrained in my life," Locke said. "For me, at least, sports was not negotiable in my life. I was just fascinated by it."
 
Yet it wasn't football or track that drew her in — it was lacrosse. Growing up in Ridgewood, N.J., where lacrosse dominated the youth scene, she picked up a stick in third grade "and never stopped since." That early curiosity became a defining passion, one that would carry her to William & Mary as a standout defender and a leader on and off the field.
 
Finding the Right Fit
 
Locke's path to Williamsburg wasn't a straight line. She didn't even know about William & Mary until her sophomore year of high school. "When I came and first visited here, I fell in love with it," she said. The combination of academic rigor and athletic ambition sealed the decision. "Everyone wants to push each other, everyone wants to do well in school, and people don't take no for an answer in this environment in terms of athletics and academics."
 
Coming from a family that valued both school and sport, Locke sought a place that mirrored those priorities. Her older brother, Jamal Locke, set the example. "He's someone who's super driven. He's gritty, he's determined, he's smart," she said. "He showed what a good academic school can give you on top of a good athletic school." That blueprint helped her choose a program where she could grow as a student and an athlete — and she wasted no time becoming a key contributor.
 
A Program in Transition
 
From the moment she stepped on campus, Locke made an immediate impact – starting four games as a freshmen and becoming a full-time starter as a sophomore. Over four years, she witnessed a transformation within the program, especially after Head Coach Kelyn Freedman's arrival. "It's really night and day," Locke said. "I've seen culture changes, skill set changes, mindset changes, and things are being done very differently now for the best for the program."
 
The shift wasn't just about tactics or training — it was about belief. "Confidence comes from being able to translate from practice to the field," she said. "Our coaching staff celebrates the little things, giving us the confidence and the will to push to do certain things that are outside of our comfort zone."
 
That confidence has the team within reach of qualifying for the CAA Tournament, a milestone that hasn't been accomplished in more than a decade. "Just even the thought that it's within reach and knowing that that's where this program is going is amazing to feel," Locke said. "I'm confident in our team. I love these girls."
 
Leading with Passion
 
Ask anyone around the program what defines Locke, and one word comes up first: passion. "This sport is my everything," she said. "I lead with passion. Even if it brings out emotions, I'm a passionate player, I'm a passionate leader, and everyone on my team knows that I severely care about the sport, about these girls on this team, about doing well."
 
That passion shines brightest in the way she connects across classes. The team has embraced a "classless" identity — one group, fully committed to each other. "Some of my best friends are sophomores and we all hang out with each other all the time," she said. "I wouldn't be feeding into these younger women if I didn't see potential in them. They push us as upperclassmen to be on our game."
 
With her collegiate career coming to an end, Locke is focused on the moment, not the emotions. "It's supposed to quote unquote be about you, but it's really not about you," she said. "It's about this team. It's about the program. It's about where we're going. My main goal is to kind of take the emotion out of it."
 
Preparing for What's Next
 
Locke's commitment to excellence extends beyond the field. An economics major, she's set to begin work as an analyst at Wells Fargo in Charlotte, N.C. — a move she didn't initially expect. "I was looking at New York initially," she said. "But I think this opportunity in Charlotte is just a blessing out of nowhere. Lacrosse has taught me to step outside of your comfort zone."
 
Her advice to the next wave of Tribe lacrosse players — and to her senior class — is simple and honest. "Just to be where your feet are," she said. "Don't sweat the little things. This sport doesn't define you either."
 
For Locke, that perspective is hard-earned, shaped by years of grit, change, and growth. As she prepares to step off the field one last time, she does so knowing she's helped lay a foundation for something bigger than herself — a program moving forward, confident and united, because of leaders like her.