Malvern native Cooper Frankenheimer, an all-state lacrosse player and three-time league champion during his time at Malvern Prep, is about to embark on his freshman season at the University of North Carolina. Blake Clifton netted the story for GoHeels.com.

“UNC has a perfect balance between academics and athletics, which is very important to me,” said Frankenheimer. “In the end, I can’t play lacrosse forever, so I’m glad I get to fall back on good academics.”

Division I men’s lacrosse, particularly in the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference), represents the highest level of the sport in the collegiate ranks.

“I’ve always loved playing in the big games and pressure situations,” Frankenheimer said. “You play those types of games every time you match up with an ACC opponent, which makes it a lot more fun to play in it.”

Upon his arrival on campus, Frankenheimer was immediately embraced by his teammates and coaches.

“It’s been great, honestly,” he said. “Everyone was so welcoming when I first got here. The coaches are always positive and have a great attitude. They have helped us freshmen transition from high school to college, which tends to be a tough one for many guys.”

Read more about Cooper Frankenheimer at GoHeels.com.