While seniors eagerly await to hear back from colleges, it is very rare for a juniors to know their college plans. It is even more rare to hear about one committed to an Ivy-League establishment like junior Hannah Lutz who committed to Princeton in early Jan. to play division 1 softball.

Playing since she was six, Lutz knew she wanted to excel in softball from a young age.

“I’ve known I wanted to play in college since I was an eighth grader,” Lutz said. “I quit dance to play softball and that’s when I knew that it was what I wanted to do in college.”

As a freshman in high school, Lutz decided that her goal was to play softball at Princeton. While playing in a tournament in New Jersey, her softball coach mentioned that Princeton was nearby and recommended to visit it. Lutz visited the campus and then the next year came back for an official tour.

“I’ve been emailing back and forth with the coach since freshman year and ever since then, I’ve loved it,” Lutz said. “It’s definitely my dream school.”

With a 7.4% acceptance rate, Princeton University is one of the hardest schools to get into in the country.

“Since I do take the AP courses, I use softball as a stress reliever,” Lutz said. “I have had the long nights where I stay up until three in the morning but it’s worth it. I have to become a better student as well as a better athlete.”

Playing on a travel ball team year-round makes for a very busy schedule for Lutz. With practices in Mission Viejo for her travel ball team, high school season offers Lutz more relaxation.

“High school softball is a little more relaxing for me because travel ball is so competitive,” Lutz said. “On the high school team I’m playing with people that I’ve known since I was really young so it’s super fun to reconnect with them. We all play travel but we play against each other, so it’s fun to come back to high school and become a community again.”

Outside of softball, she finds time to hang out with friends despite her busy schedule. Even if it means just meeting up with them to do homework.

“I like Hannah because she is kind, a great friend and very smart,” junior Barbara DeSilva stated. “I was so happy when she got into Princeton.”

Lutz will sign her National Letter of Intention to play softball at Princeton in October of her senior year. Finishing off her junior year, Lutz will continue playing on Carlsbad’s varsity team for second season as a shortstop.

“It’s amazing what softball has brought me to,” Lutz said. “With the help of softball, I’m able to get into my dream school. I wouldn’t have been able to get in without it.”