WHB’s Isabelle Smith ready for next level at Boston College
WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. (BVM) — Coming into Boston College as the No. 1-ranked midfielder in the country, Isabelle “Belle” Smith is more than prepared to take on the pressure of the next level.
Smith stood out on the lacrosse field from a young age at Westhampton Beach, playing on the girls varsity team since she was in the seventh grade. Hurricanes’ coach, Mary Bergmann, was quick to notice the future star midfielder.
“I noticed Belle as a sixth grader in my PE class my first week teaching in Westhampton Beach,” Bergmann said. “I thought, wow, this kid is a great athlete. I found out the next week that she was a lacrosse player. She became my stats person that year and she would play before games and during half time. There was no doubt from that age she was special.”
Over the years, Smith’s game has gone to the next level. Having six years worth of varsity experience, her coach describes just what makes the former Hurricanes’ midfielder so special.
“She’s so fluid and fun to watch,” Bergmann said. “She makes big plays, but is always graceful and in control.
“We would always joke that during tryouts every year, we would notice, ‘Belle has still not peaked.’ She is so fun to watch and she just keeps getting better and better. She really was a student of the game and she continued to improve in all facets. She truly became a well rounded player, leader, and teammate throughout her experiences in high school and with the USA team.”
Smith would finish her career with over 350 career points (a high school record) and was a four-time All-County selection, a four-time Under Armour All-American selection, and part of the USA U-19 National team. With all of those accomplishments in hand, the Hurricanes’ star wouldn’t be able to cap off her final season due to the pandemic.
“I cannot imagine what it is like to miss out on your senior season,” Bergmann said. “I think Belle handled it with such grace and really reflected on all the opportunities lacrosse gave to her. Knowing that she still has four years of college and time with the USA program, I think helped her get through it. I wish we could have had a season, I know it would have been a special season for her and her teammates.”
Without the chance to finish off her lacrosse career at Westhampton Beach, Smith would be able to do so in the other sports she played. A star not only in lacrosse, Smith shined leading the state in digs from her sophomore season on in volleyball, while also scoring over 1,300 points in her career on the basketball court.
“There are so many things, but first and foremost was her drive to succeed,” Bergmann said when talking about what made her so successful in multiple sports. “It didn’t matter what sport she was playing, she wanted to be competitive, she wanted to win, and she wanted to do it all with her teammates.
“Of course playing lacrosse from a very young age and having two older sisters who played, definitely helped her develop much earlier than many players, but I truly feel her mental strength and drive is what separated her from other athletes.”
The former USA gold medalist will be starting her first year playing at Boston College this spring and will look to make an early impact. In an interview with Chris Goldberg of TopLaxRecruits.com back in 2016, Smith talked about the connection she felt to the school.
“I chose Boston College because of its amazing academic reputation, its strong athletics, its school spirit, and its proximity to home,” Smith said. “I could not see myself playing for any coach other than Coach (Acacia) Walker. I felt very much at home the minute I stepped on campus and met the team.”
Her former coach sees special things in the future for Smith and doesn’t think the next level will slow her down.
“She is going to be an impact player at the college and USA level,” Bergmann said. “I think she is going to be a game changer in so many ways. In addition to her lacrosse skills, she is one of the best coaches I have ever seen. I know she is going to find a way to accomplish all the goals she has and continue growing the game of lacrosse and instilling a love for the game in younger children.”
