Catching Up With Ben Heidt '25

6/29/2026

Ben Heidt had choices.

Many choices, actually.

Accomplished, oft-honored athletes who are also good citizens usually do.

During his high school career, the 2025 Collegiate graduate certainly earned the serious notice he received from the dozen-plus colleges that wanted to enhance their lacrosse program with him on board.

After all, he was a three-time All-VISAA, All-Prep League, and All-Metro selection, an All-American, and the 2025 All-Metro player of the year. An honor roll student, he was also an academic All-American and an all-state football player (defensive end).

His lacrosse stats were stellar. A midfielder, Heidt scored 157 career goals (second in Collegiate history behind Joe White) and contributed 46 assists for 203 career points, sixth in program history. As a senior, he scored a program record 67 goals and dealt 21 assists.

So, sure, based on his Collegiate performances, his club team excellence, and his size (6-2 200), athleticism, and toughness, he had a wide selection of choices from which to cast his lot.

What did he do? He chose the United States Air Force Academy, which he knew would test him mightily.

“When I went out there (Colorado Springs, Colo.) to visit and heard the culture of the locker room and the mission of the school, the idea of growing as a person really stuck with me,” he said. “When I started playing lacrosse, my dream was never to go to a service academy. (Former Collegiate) Coach (Zack) Schroeder (a Naval Academy graduate) showed me and Adam (Sulanke, a teammate who went to West Point) what a service academy is about and what we can learn from being there. I started looking into it. After talking to the guys (on the Air Force team), I felt like it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

In his inaugural season, Heidt, a civil engineering major, played in 12 games, eight of which he started. He scored 17 goals, added two assists, and earned a spot on the Atlantic Sun Conference all-freshman team.

One recent morning, he spoke about his journey and his transition to the rigors of Air Force Academy life.

What about lacrosse excites you?

I fell in love with it because it incorporates a lot of different sports. It has a physical aspect. You have to have speed. You have to have endurance.

Speak about narrowing your focus to just one sport in college

It was a lot different. You really excel once you start training all year long for one sport. But playing a bunch of different sports in high school really helps. Give your all to those sports. I got my physical side for lacrosse from football. From basketball (which he played through his freshman year), you learn how you see the court, how you see the field. Every guy on our team played two or three sports in high school.

Were you prepared academically when you got to college?

I was very prepared, especially with the work ethic Collegiate instills in you, like doing your homework every night and staying on top of tasks. Just being challenged at Collegiate made college a lot easier.

And your physical preparation for lacrosse and cadet life?

The physical preparation was great. Coach (Justin) Brown (Collegiate sports performance) did a really good job in the off-season preparing me. Winter of senior year was probably the strongest I’ve ever been from a pure strength standpoint. (Collegiate lacrosse) Coach (Jason) Archbell had us running and getting our cardio up. That prepared me well. When I got to college, (fitness) wasn’t a hindrance.

What was the toughest part of adjusting to the Air Force Academy?

You go through basic training for six weeks. It’s no fun. They basically strip you of all your freedoms. You can’t really speak. They shave your head. That’s a big culture shock. The whole time, you think, Why’d I choose to do this? Then you get into the school year. You’re getting harassed every morning. Every day, you’re still, Why’d I do this? You get used to it. You start playing your sport (after basic ends in August) and meeting some guys on the team. It all comes together.

How did you manage your time with the extra layer of the military?

I’ve always liked structure. Wake up, go to class, go to lunch, go to practice, homework, sleep, every weekday. Get back from practice at 7, do homework, get up at 6. That was pretty demanding. You manage to get it done. Everybody’s going through it with you.

Were there times when you said, can’t do this?

Not seriously. You have those friendships within the team. Everybody’s picking you up. The juniors and seniors are really supportive. They’re, Hey, we all went through this. When you get older, you’ll really appreciate this. You can do this for the other guys.

What was the biggest surprise?

It was more the mental side of being halfway across the country in a new environment. That was a lot harder than I thought. The juniors and seniors on the lacrosse team all had our backs.

In what areas did you improve as a player?

The little things that you don’t really think of in high school. How you can set up your defender. Little hesitation moves to get him off balance. And just shooting with confidence, shooting to score, shooting to an area rather than just shooting as hard as you can.

What are areas that still need improvement?

Getting my agility and speed a little better. Everybody’s bigger, faster, stronger. Getting more moves and quicker feet.

What would you tell a younger Collegiate student who dreams of playing sports in college?

Have fun. Work really hard. Hit the gym. Get strong. Play all the sports you can. That really helps make you a rounded athlete. Have a plan, set some goals each year. Don’t stress about where you’re going to end up. Just try your best.

Your reflections on your first year, now that it’s over

It changed the way I look at everything. When everything’s restricted for a while, and you come back, just a warm shower was the best thing. (The experience) made me more grateful and disciplined, which made me better as a person than I was before.

~Weldon Bradshaw

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