Forrest Named MaxPreps Best Female Athlete, Headed to Chapel Hill

Sam Forrest is one of the most decorated athletes to ever walk the halls of Glastonbury High School.

She is also one of the most unselfish.

The 2021-graduate reflected of her favorite sports memories at GHS, saying, “Obviously the state championship in soccer is one, but what stands out was during lacrosse this season when we found out that one of our teammates [Mary Norman] who had hip surgery in the fall was finally cleared to play. We were told that she might not be able to play this season, so my favorite moment was being able to get on the field with her again and have that connection back.”

Despite all her accolades, which there are many, Forrest has remained the consummate teammate and friend.

“She’s always been that way. Sam has always been really respectful of the other players,” said GHS girls lacrosse coach Kris Cofiell, “She has always carried herself maturely. She never thought she was bigger than the team or the game.”

Forrest, who was a three-sport captain at GHS, received national recognition in June when she was named as MaxPreps Top Female Athlete in Connecticut.

The honor came as a surprise in more ways than one for Forrest, “I heard about it through a friend that found it online. I was playing minigolf with my family and my friend called me. I didn’t even know that it had happened until a couple of days after the article came out.”

“It means a lot because I know a lot of the girls that were on it from other states and they are some of the greatest athletes that I know, and it’s an honor for me to be in the same category as them.”

Prior to graduating last month, Forrest put the finishing touches on an impeccable resume at GHS.

In her final lacrosse season this spring she scored 100 points, leading the team with 74 goals as the team won a 13th straight conference title. The prolific midfielder finished as the program’s all-time leader in career goals and earned USA Lacrosse All-American.

Cofiell said Forrest’s drive to be great was evident from day one, “She was a player who I heard about before she got to the high school and I’ve had some phenomenal athletes previously, but Sam’s pure athleticism is clearly seen by the fact that she has done so well in three sports. There is no doubt that no matter what sport Sam decided to put her mind to she would be very good. To have the speed, the strength, the field sense, all of those things in one person and a great desire to improve. Those are all things that make her the lacrosse athlete that she is and make her successful at the other sports.”

Indoor track was limited to practice-only this winter, but Forrest left her mark on the program during her junior year when she earned All-New England in three events (Individual 300-meter, anchor on the 4x200 relay, and anchor of the 4x400 relay). Glastonbury’s indoor track won both the Class LL and State Open Championship during the February of 2020.

Her first team state title at GHS was during the 2019 soccer season where she earned MVP honors as the team defeated top-seed Southington 1-0 in the Class LL title game. During her time with the program, she set a new scoring mark in three seasons, making All-State and United Soccer Coaches All-American.

Her rise to the athletic apex started at an early age.

“It was my parent who got me into sports. Honestly, my dad really didn’t know what to do with a daughter so he thought why not throw her into sports and see what happens,” joked Forrest, “When I was younger it came to me really easily and I figured why not keep doing it and try and get better.”

The intuition of her parents, Jon and Pam, was spot on as Forrest thrived both athletically and academically.

Despite playing sports year around, Forrest maintained a 4.16 GPA and earn high honors in all four years.

She has won numerous awards and championships, yet it’s the simple things about Glastonbury that are tough to leave behind.

“There’s so many things that I am going to miss, but honestly, it’s just going to be hanging out with my friends and family. We live in a small town, so one of the things that you do when you’re bored is go get Dunkin with your friends and drive around and listen to music. That’s probably one of the most stereotypical nostalgic things I’ll miss. It’s something that takes my mind off all the stresses of life, and we can live in the moment with friends and enjoy an iced coffee.”

Her next destination is Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Forrest, who has lived in Glastonbury her entire life, will take her lacrosse skills and ambition to the University of North Carolina to join the Tar Heels athletic program steeped in greatness. The soon-to-be college freshman will join an elite UNC team that finished 20-1 and made the Division I Final Four this spring.

“I love all my family and friends here and it’s definitely going to be tough to leave them because they’ve always been here and supported me, but I think what I am most excited for it to make new friends and have a good time and do well in school so I can get a good job in the future. People always say that college is the best years of your life, so I’m excited to enjoy it,” said Forrest, who will major in Business and minor in Exercise Sports Science, “The coaches have been really nice, and I have gone to a couple of camps on the campus and I thought it was really beautiful. It’s just the whole vibe of the school and the team, I just really fell in love with it.”

Prior to jetting off to the Tar Heel State, Forrest will competed against the most elite high school lacrosse players from across the nation in the 2021 Under Armour All-American game in Baltimore, Maryland.

Forrest was 1 of 44 girls selected to play in the North vs South game later this month.

Just like her MaxPreps recognition, the invitation came as a total surprise for the selfless superstar.

“I was in the middle of a school day and we went outside to take a mask break for math class when my phone started to ring so I picked it up. It was the Under Armour team that told me I made the team, I was shocked. I thought it was going to be a spam phone call,” recalled Forrest, “I’m so excited to play against such a high caliber. It’s going to be so much fun to play around people that are so good.”

The game will be televised live on ESPNU on Saturday, July 31st at 5:30 p.m.

Forrest has conquered Glastonbury. Now she takes her talent and humility around the country.

​Cofiell summed up Forrest’s time at GHS, “I’ve had some amazing athletes that have played at the highest level and Sam can stand among them. Certainly her effect on athletics as Glastonbury High School has been the largest of any female athlete that I’ve known in the 20 years I’ve been coaching.”