Home Grown: Real Athletes. Real Stories. Big Dreams.
Home Grown highlights hometown athletes who embody the spirit of their community wherever they go. Each episode revisits former high school stars now competing at the college level — athletes who grew up on local fields, courts, and tracks and continue to represent the places that shaped them.
Through candid, unfiltered conversations, they share their journeys of grit, growth, and gratitude. Home Grown isn’t just about sports — it’s about pride, roots, and the people who make our community what it is. No matter how far they go, these athletes remain true to their roots.
Home Grown: Real Athletes. Real Stories. Big Dreams.
Home Grown: Kate Wilson
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Kate Wilson didn’t just join a program—she helped build one.
From launching Croatan High School’s girls lacrosse team to becoming the first player in school history to sign a Division I scholarship, Kate’s path is rooted in leadership, resilience, and doing the work when no blueprint exists. In this episode of Home Grown, she breaks down how teaching teammates sharpened her own game, why culture matters more than stats, and how a state championship was won long before the opening draw.
We dive into the reality of Division I life at Liberty—position changes, scout-team battles, and 5:45 a.m. practices—along with the academic grind that led her to graduate magna cum laude in just two years. Now pursuing graduate studies and a career in sports operations, Kate reflects on identity, balance, and redefining success beyond the scoreboard.
This is a story about lifting others up, earning every step, and carrying your roots wherever the game takes you.
Follow Kate's journey on Instagram @akw.820