Alexis Savage has spent most of her life with a lacrosse stick in hand. Growing up on Long Island, where the sport is woven into community identity, she found herself immersed in the game from an early age. "Long Island is definitely known for being a haven for lacrosse," Savage said. "I started lacrosse in 3rd grade, so it's really been something that's been a part of my life for as long as I can remember."
 
Her journey wasn't a straight line. Savage attended multiple high schools before arriving at William & Mary, each move introducing her to new teams and new experiences that broadened her perspective. "As much as it was a lot of moving around, I wouldn't trade it for the world," she said. "All of those teams, groups and people exposed me to different opportunities and experiences that I wouldn't trade for anything else."
 
Now a sophomore attacker for the Tribe, Savage carries those lessons with her—lessons in adaptability, teamwork and resilience. "I've been playing lacrosse my entire life and I haven't met a team or a group of people who have been so supportive and great," she said. "Any fears I may have had were disproved within a week or two of being with this team. It's been a great experience."
 
Home at William & Mary
When Savage arrived at William & Mary, she stepped into a program undergoing transition. "My sophomore class joined this program with a whole new coaching staff," she said. "There was uncertainty coming into our freshman year with that, but our coaching staff are communicative and supportive, and this transition has been positive."
 
That support helped her settle in quickly and thrive both on and off the field. "This team has taught me so much about myself on and off the field, and I'm excited to continue these next few years with them," she said.
 
The intersection of athletics and academics at William & Mary was a major draw for Savage. "What definitely drew me to William & Mary was how every single person, not only on my team but at the school, is invested in their academics," she said. "Many of us are focused on excellence in the classroom and on the field, and I just think that's so admirable."
 
Balancing Physics and Pre-Med
Savage's path in the classroom is as demanding as her path on the field. She's a physics major with a medical concentration on the pre-med track—an uncommon combination that reflects her curiosity and ambition. "It's not exactly a common major for those pursuing pre-med," she said. "I'm really interested in STEM, and I wanted to be able to use those interests and my curiosity and knack for it in a way that was meaningful and impactful for other people."
 
The decision to major in physics came after her freshman year, inspired by her studies during high school. "I had taken two AP physics courses in high school," she said. "They were impactful in helping me determine my major. I have an interest in the problem-solving aspect of it."
 
She quickly discovered that physics and medicine intersect more than most realize. "Honestly, a lot of people don't really expect there to be much overlap between physics and medical topics, but there really is a lot," she said. "I'm super interested in doing research in a field like medical physics—there are a lot of things to be done with medical imaging and computational modeling for biological processes that I think is so cool."
 
Research and the Road Ahead
Beyond the classroom, Savage is gaining hands-on experience that bridges her academic interests. "I work in a neurobiolab at Stony Brook," she said. "Basically, we have this mouse model that models a certain disease in premature infants. We look at how these mice are affected behaviorally and neurologically by the disease."
 
Her work leans into the computational side, combining her strengths in physics with her passion for medicine. "It's super cool to see that combination of medicine and physics together happening in front of me and me being able to contribute new ideas to the field that no one's ever done before," she said. "I just think that's so cool."
 
Looking ahead, Savage has ambitious goals. "I plan on pursuing an MD-PhD program that combines med school and a PhD in research," she said. "Working in the neurobiolab has been a great experience, and I'm excited to continue my research."
 
Family Influence and Life Beyond Lacrosse
Savage's drive to pursue a career in health is rooted in her family. "My mom is an ENT nurse practitioner," she said. "She's my biggest role model and really inspired me to pursue a career in health. She's so hardworking, always putting her patients first and other people before herself. She is such an inspiration to me in that regard."
 
She remembers the early days of the pandemic as a defining moment. "She would come home exhausted but she never stopped putting her patients first, helping them get the care and support and safety that they need," Savage said. "Even beyond that she's just been the biggest supporter to me and my brother Collin, always pushing us to be our best."
 
Outside of lacrosse and academics, Savage finds balance through reading. "I'd definitely say my biggest hobby is reading," she said. "It really helps me reset and relax after a long day." Her favorites span genres, from "The Song of Achilles" by Madeline Miller to "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, with a recent lean toward science fiction.
 
Balancing It All
For Savage, the balance between athletics and academics has become a source of strength. "Balancing being a student and an athlete is definitely something that's super important to me," she said. "There's definitely a lot of intersection between my athletic experience and my academic experience. I'm taking the discipline that I learned from lacrosse and I'm implementing that into my academics and classes every single day."
 
She believes those lessons will carry her far beyond her time in Williamsburg. "Even after my undergrad as I go into med school—when I won't be playing lacrosse—I have no doubts that the things I've learned from this team – and this lacrosse athletic experience – will be used every single day in med