This story is featured in the Spring 2019 edition of the HPU Magazine. Discover below how one NCAA men’s lacrosse player has thrived and transformed as a student-athlete.
The men’s lacrosse team is one of the newest Division I High Point University athletic teams, and yet they’ve already achieved two conference regular season titles, including their first Southern Conference title. Junior Asher Nolting, a native of Greenwood Village, Colorado, made history in the 2018 season as the first player in HPU and SoCon history to record a 30-goal, 30-assist season, breaking the program scoring record with 66 points. He was named an Inside Lacrosse Pre-Season All-American Honorable Mention going into his sophomore campaign. Get to know more about Nolting, one of the team’s most dynamic players.
What brought you to High Point?
Coach Jon Torpey gave me a call going into my senior year and told me to come down for a visit because he knew I’d love the campus. I fell in love with the campus as soon as I stepped on it. I loved the guys, and I thought I could really thrive in this program. Now, I know I can.
How does North Carolina compare to your home state of Colorado, and what were your thoughts once you were on campus?
I definitely miss the winters in Colorado. I like snow, but I love North Carolina. I love the people in North Carolina. Everyone is super nice. This is definitely a place I would consider living after graduation. But what really drew me here is I believe this university gives students a better chance to do what they want. I think it is one of the most diverse universities in the country. I fell in love with it right when I stepped on campus.
What were your thoughts on your first college season?
I had a good year. As a team, we started off a little slow, but we were pretty resilient. We came back in the second part of the season and won a conference championship. This year, we are looking to win the championship outright.
How do you improve after winning SoCon Freshman and Player of the Year?
I just need to get faster and stronger and try to stay healthier longer. It is always tough, especially with the amount of good players we have in our conference. It was an honor to receive the SoCon award, and it gave me a little extra motivation to keep going.
What enabled you to become the first player in school history to post 30 goals and 30 assists in a season?
Learning from my teammates has been extremely beneficial. We have Chris Young back this year, and I am grateful for all of our upperclassmen who have given me the opportunity to do certain things that I probably wouldn’t be able to do if I were a freshman on any other team in Division I lacrosse. I give all the credit to my teammates.
What are your personal goals for this season?
I want to be a First-Team All-American. I think I’m a good enough player to be one of the Top-Four attackmen in the country, if not a Top-Five player in the country. I’ve put in a lot of work this off-season to get me to that level.
What are the team goals for the season?
We want to get that first NCAA Tournament win. We’ve never done it as a program, and I think this year is definitely a year we can make a pretty good run. We’re young, but we still have some experience, and I think that will help us.