Q&A: Marion Croze

Marion Croze is a senior at Lycée Francais de New York (LFNY). She plays soccer, rugby, basketball and track. That’s a lot, but it’s just the beginning. She is the captain and only girl on the school’s boys rugby team. One time, because of Marion, an opposing all-boys team refused to play. Another time, an admiring rugby coach from a rival remarked about Marion, “I have no problem with girls playing...the girl [referring to Marion] who played fly-half for FASNY [French American School of New York] was one of the best athletes on the field!” Last year, Marion left FASNY for LFNY to pursue her true love, soccer. The sport has been her passion since she was a little girl. How passionate? Let me tell you. In 2001, 11-year old Marion needed open heart surgery to get a valve repaired. The doctors gave her a choice: do it in June or during the Christmas break. It was no choice for Marion. She chose Christmas so she’d be up and around by February/March, just in time to play spring soccer. Now a senior captain of the LFNY soccer team, Marion turned down an invitation to play for the Yonkers Patriots, a highest level high school amateur division team. Why? One major factor was that it would take away her weekend. Which was the only time she got to see her friends from home. Marion is our kind of sportsperson.

What is your favorite sport?
Um, rugby—even though I’m not that good at it. My best sport is probably soccer or track, but I enjoy rugby the most.

What is it about rugby that you like so much?
I don’t know. (pauses) I was on the boys team, not with the girls and um, it’s just so, exciting!! (laughs)

You don’t mind being tackled by the guys?
No not at all! That’s the thing, (pauses), it’s so, um, well there’s just so much more adrenalin involved. It’s unlike any other sport because it’s really scary, and at the same time you’re always thinking all the time. I began playing last year in the guys league since there is no girls team here.

You’re ALSO quite the soccer player. What’s the story about you being offered to play for the Yonkers Patriots, practically a semi-pro team?
I was playing on multiple teams for the [LFNY] and travel teams. When my seasons were ending, I got an offer to play in Premier League but I didn’t take it because of the time problems of commuting. It was really far away and would have taken up all of my time. I already have practice every day after school and I am competing every weekend already. I just didn’t have the time to commit to something like Premier League.

Has soccer always been your primary sport?
Yeah. I started playing when I was 5. It’s because I’m French (laughs), I mean it is a very European sport. When I was younger, my brother was never really into sports so I was like, this very different type of girl (laughs) Both my parents are from France.

You also play basketball. Is that a new sport for you?
No, I started in 6th grade. I really like to play, but it’s definitely not one of my best sports. I still love it though.

And, you run track. How’s that going?
Our local league hasn’t started yet but I recently went up to Brown for my first track meet. My old school never offered a track program so this season will be my first time. I didn’t really understand how many laps I had to run (laughs). So I ended up stopping when I wasn’t supposed to stop. And by the time I realized my mistake, it was too late.

How were you doing in the race before you stopped?
I was in line with two other girls in first and the pack was all behind us. But I didn’t understand that I was supposed to keep running until I was standing there while the whole pack flew by me. I was like “This sucks!” (laughs)

What lesson did you learn from this?
Um, pay more attention to what’s going on around me, I guess? (laughs)

That race at Brown was the 500-meter. Aren’t you more of a sprinter?
Oh yeah! Five hundred meters was long for me. But I do I have to run the 3 km at the end of the year for the French exam. It’s part of the baccalaureate, which is a big test that you have to pass to go to college. So I’m taking physical fitness as one of the options for the test.

You need to run fast to get into college?
(laughs) NO! But the faster I run, the better my grade is on the final.

And beyond the classroom, what lessons from sports can you apply to life?
Sports have taught me how to focus on a goal and how to work hard to achieve that goal. I guess that’s it If you want to win, you have to put in a lot of effort and hard work. But in the end, the thrill of winning is better than anything.