In the entertainment industry, a person who can act, sing and dance is known as a triple threat.
Morganne Dee is a different breed of triple threat in the world of sports.
Dee, a Lancaster High School senior, is a three-sport standout for the Legends in field hockey, ice hockey and lacrosse.
Next year, Dee will be replicating that achievement in college as she has verbally committed to play for Division 3 Arcadia University outside of Philadelphia. Making Dee the first-ever three-sport athlete in the history of Arcadia.
“I am really excited to be the first one to attempt this,” said Dee.
“That wasn’t my intention to make history because I just wanted to play the sports I love. It’s gonna be difficult to manage everything but I don’t think I would have it any other way. I’m really happy that the coaches are willing to work with me and each other to allow this opportunity.”
Playing three sports at the collegiate level will definitely be a huge undertaking for Dee, but she is well prepared for it.
Along with honing her athletic ability, Dee has been developing the all-important time management skills needed to balance three sports. Dee has also been taking Advanced Placement classes for four years.
Therefore, she feels that she is well prepared for the demanding workload, academically as well as athletically.
“I’ve played field hockey, hockey and lacrosse all year round and at the same time while taking AP classes,” said Dee. “So I’m used to the heavy workload. A lot of people don’t realize that I have done that for the past for years. So I am willing to take on this task. It’ll be hard, but the coaches we willing to work with me academically as well as athletically. And I’m excited about that.”
Most kids would likely be so overjoyed at the prospect of being a three-sport athlete in college that they might not fully be prepared for just how difficult and time consuming it will be.
Lancaster lacrosse coach Julie Buccieri said Dee is a grounded, mature young woman who understands the full spectrum of what she awaits her. Moreover, that she has no doubt that Morganne will succeed in every way imaginable.
“Out of any of the kids I’ve coached I really do think she can be successful at this because she has such a love for playing the game. Whatever game she is playing she loves it and she gives 100 percent,” Buccieri said.
Buccieri describes Morganne being the type of kid who will do whatever is asked of her without question and is always ready to run through a wall for her team.
Lancaster field hockey coach Crystal Schunke echoed those words. Saying that Morganne Dee is an elite person in every way. Beyond being a good player she is a good person who’s kind heart touches everyone she meets.
“She’s the real deal,” Schunke said. “She’s a kind person who works hard and she will do what she needs to do to get things done, but she also wants to make sure credit is give where credit is due.”
Schunke relayed a story from this season. The Legends, who are enjoying their first No.1 ranking in 10 years, were cruising to another win.
Schunke mixed up the lineup and played girls in different positions.
Dee was on a breakaway all but sure to score her third goal of the game when she passed the ball to a teammate who rarely scores. She gave a teammate a chance to experience the thrill of scoring. That look of joy on her teammate’s face was reward enough for Dee.
“She is very determined but she is also probably one of the most selfless athletes I’ve ever met,” Schunke said.
Dee’s helping nature not only inspires her to help organize captain’s practices for the varsity field hockey squad. She has also taken it upon herself to help pass her knowledge and love of the game to the JV players.
“She is very mature beyond her years,” Schunke said. “She knows exactly what she wants. She knows what she has to do for those three sports (in college).”
Schunke she has witnessed firsthand the way Dee balances responsibilities and keeps her commitment to her studies and every single sports team she is part of. Even if a coach were to let Dee slide on a practice, she would never take the easy road.
Initially, Dee had her eye on another school. Nevertheless, the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in some of that school’s athletes exercising their option to play another year. Which left Dee searching for a better option.
In November, Arcadia’s women’s hockey coach Kelsey Koelzer spotted Morganne in a tourney. Koelzer reached out to see if Morganne would be interested in playing for the Knights.
Always hoping to play multiple sports in college, after Morganne secured her visit to the campus, she then reached out to field hockey coach Erin Livingston.
Supremely confident in her ability and work ethic Dee also contacted Arcadia lax coach Samantha Hosford about a possible spot on her squad. While being a multi-sport athlete is not unusual in high school most kids tend to have a first love sport and a clear path they plan to travel when it comes to athletic scholarship opportunities.
But Morganne Dee simply could not choose.
Whether its field hockey, lacrosse or the unified girls ice hockey team known as LID (Lancaster/Iroquois/Depew) Morganne’s passion for all three ran neck in neck.
When the pieces fell into place, where she could play all three and pursue her business degree it was a no brainer. Arcadia was home. Those in Morganne’s support network could not have been more thrilled.
“So the other day she came up to me and said I’ve got great news. I said which sport, girl? Which sport? “Buccieri said with a smile.
“Anyone of them and I’m so proud of you. And she said all three and I’m gonna be the first female athlete to do that at Arcadia. I said that is amazing.”
What really put Dee’s mind at ease was the support from all three head coaches.
Koelzer, Livingston and Hosford all told Dee to focus on whatever sport was in season. That they would not pressure her with off season workouts or team meetings.
That gesture went a long way in Dee’s eyes.
“They said they really want me on each team so they are willing to work with my schedule and work with each other to get it all situated,” said Dee.
“I am very fortunate that these coaches were eager enough to take on these challenges with me and help me out with all the sports.”
Knowing that the coaches from each sport were all willing to go out of their way to make this work gave Morganne peace of mind and heart.
It told Dee that these coaches care about her as a person. That she is wanted and they have her best interest at heart. She is not just a number on a roster. That she was family.
“I am really happy that they are going the extra mile,” said Dee.
“That just shows that they want me to succeed. They don’t want me to be used just as an athlete. They want me to be able to learn from this. To become a better teammate. Become a better person. It is very comforting to know they want me to be there as much as they want me to learn.”
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