Kent Denver Athletics was represented on both the men’s and women’s NCAA Division III soccer national championship teams this season. Congratulations to Kaci Karl ’22 (Washington University-St. Louis) and Jacob Lahlou ’24 (Amherst College) for winning national titles with their respective schools! 

We caught up briefly with both KDS alumni after their championships. Read the Q&As below.

What does it feel like to win a Division III soccer national title? 

Kaci: Winning the National Title was an incredible experience. I felt a mix of joy, pride and relief. It had been something our team had been working toward since we lost in the Final last year, and to achieve our end goal and know all the time and sacrifice was worth it made it a memory I will cherish forever. 

Jacob: To win a championship is what every team strives to achieve, and to win it was truly amazing and something I will never forget. Every year, we put so much time, effort, and care into trying to achieve the pinnacle of what the season could bring, and while I am grateful enough to have gotten that, I am even more grateful to have done it with such a great group of guys. 

What about your Kent Denver experience helped set you up for this amazing accomplishment? 

Kaci: The Kent Denver experience helped me have the attitude to approach playing at WashU with confidence. My coaches and teachers at Kent Denver taught me the importance of perseverance and maintaining a positive mindset, which played a significant role in how I approach being a part of a team and a teammate. Additionally, the competitive environment and the opportunities to play in high-stakes games prepared me mentally and physically for the challenges of college soccer. 

Jacob: I think Kent Denver helped me achieve this amazing accomplishment because every day, whether it was on the soccer field or in the classroom, there was this great sense of community. Through that, I was able to figure out in what ways I could best benefit the community, and this idea—of doing what the community requires, no matter where you go—transcends borders; and in this case, it transcended to a small town in Western Mass. 

Kent Denver is always so proud to see student-athletes go on to succeed at the next level. Visit our College Recruiting page to see a list of recent alumni playing collegiate sports, and check out the current list of Class of 2025 students who will be continuing their athletic journey next year. Stay tuned for more Signing Day news this spring!