Vic Made — Bryce Emery, Wilmington University

About this series:
Vic Made is a Lacrosse Victoria series featuring Victorian players who have taken their lacrosse overseas, to high schools and colleges across North America. Every path looks different. Some players go through recruiters, some contact schools directly, and some build highlight reels for years before a door opens. There is no single way in. What these players share is that they went looking for the opportunity and found it. This series exists to show the next generation of Victorian players that the opportunity is real and that it might look different for each of them too.

Meet Bryce Emery

Bryce Emery comes from Williamstown Lacrosse Club in Victoria. After completing some of his studies at Swinburne University here in Melbourne, he made the move to the United States in 2025 when the American college year began.

He is now a sophomore midfielder at Wilmington University in Delaware, where he is majoring in business management. The Wilmington Wildcats compete in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) as an NCAA Division II program. At the time of publishing, the Wildcats are sitting as the No. 1 seed in the CACC for 2026.

Bryce's path to Wilmington came through a sports management agency, which connected him with coaching staff after an initial evaluation and the development of a highlight reel and sports resume. It is one of several ways Victorian players have found their path into the American college system, and it comes with its own costs and considerations, something Bryce addresses honestly in his answers below.

In his own words

How much game time did you get in your first season, and what did you have to do to earn it?

"In my first season I didn't really see the field. I got most of my game time in the second half of games if we had gained a lead. Your first year is all about learning the team systems and getting your head around it."

What surprised you most about the level of training and competition when you first arrived?

"The biggest thing is that everybody is an athlete and is talented. There are not many people who are not playing at a high level. For the level of training, it is all about consistency, coming in day in day out and performing through injury, sickness, and everything. The competition is fast, loud and hard. Everybody wants to be the best, and everybody is fighting for spots."

What has been the highlight of your time overseas so far, on or off the field?

"A highlight for me would probably be getting to have the full collegiate athlete experience, from the 5am wake-ups to travelling to games, being able to be the closest thing to a professional that you can get, where the level and intensity are on another level."

How did you get on the radar of Wilmington?

"I contacted a sports management agency and worked with one of the scouts to get on the radar of coaches after their initial evaluation of where I was most likely projected to go. After I had made a highlight reel and a sports resume, I was put in contact with coaches, and from there it was just staying up-to-date with contacting coaches and keeping good relationships with them."

Is there anything you wish you had known before committing?

"Getting a solid idea of all related costs is a big thing. Everybody wants to get a full ride; however, there are a lot of costs that cannot be included in scholarships. On top of this is also how big the squad is and having a better idea of game time. Coaches will always talk up how much you will play during recruitment, but knowing and accepting that you probably will not play in your first year is a big factor."

How do you manage the balance between study and lacrosse?

"Schedule and a weekly calendar. Homework can creep up on you if you are not careful, and the worst thing that can happen is to fall behind and have Coach on you about grades. School is as important as lacrosse."

What is one piece of advice you would give a junior player in Melbourne who wants to play college lacrosse one day?

"Work hard and be consistent in your training. Work on the things that better your game and try to be a versatile player. Coaches love guys who score goals or who have highlight plays, but they love the hustle and glue guys more. Hard ground balls, end line chase outs, hard doubles, rides, clears, and IQ plays. It is every part of lacrosse they watch."

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Vic Made is an ongoing Lacrosse Victoria series. More stories coming soon.

Are you a Victorian lacrosse player currently studying or playing overseas? We would love to feature you. Get in touch via Instagram.

Playing in an overseas camp or tournament this year? We want to hear from you for part two of the series.

Already committed to a school overseas? Congratulations! We want to share your story in part three. Reach out via Instagram.