Sylvania senior's college soccer dreams upended by Lourdes University closure

Jillian Mitchell had committed to play soccer at Lourdes, but the school's sudden closure has forced her to restart the recruiting process just months before graduation.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Jillian Mitchell, a senior at Sylvania Northview High School, had committed to continue her soccer career at Lourdes University this fall. However, Lourdes University's decision to close at the end of the semester has left the Mitchell family scrambling to find another school for Jillian to attend, with many college athletic rosters already filled nationwide.

Why it matters

The closure of Lourdes University has disrupted Jillian's college plans and forced her to restart the entire recruiting process just months before her high school graduation. This situation highlights the challenges student-athletes can face when their chosen college unexpectedly closes, and the emotional and logistical difficulties families must navigate in finding a new school on short notice.

The details

Jillian had committed to Lourdes University because of its faith-based environment, which was a major factor in her decision. Now, with Lourdes closing, Jillian and her family must explore new options, including offers from the University of Toledo, Walsh University, and Trine University to help ease the transfer process for Lourdes students. However, the family is unsure if these options will be a good fit for Jillian's soccer and academic goals.

  • Lourdes University announced it will close at the end of the current semester.
  • Jillian Mitchell, a senior at Sylvania Northview High School, had committed to continue her soccer career at Lourdes this fall.

The players

Jillian Mitchell

A senior at Sylvania Northview High School who had committed to play soccer at Lourdes University.

Jeremy Mitchell

Jillian's father, who said the family is shocked and must now restart the entire recruiting process.

Amber Mitchell

Jillian's mother, who said the opportunity at Lourdes felt like the right fit and that watching her daughter navigate the uncertainty has been difficult.

University of Toledo

One of the schools that has offered to help ease the transfer process for Lourdes students.

Walsh University

One of the schools that has offered to help ease the transfer process for Lourdes students.

Trine University

One of the schools that has offered to help ease the transfer process for Lourdes students.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's just a really big emotion to take in. A big event happened. I put a lot of work into it. And to get the news that I now have to restart all over again, it's just a little upsetting.”

— Jillian Mitchell (wtol.com)

“At this point, from anger and sadness to now we've got to regroup and figure out where we're going to go next. We've got to restart the entire recruiting process over again.”

— Jeremy Mitchell, Jillian's father (wtol.com)

“It was amazing for her. It was a great opportunity for her. So it's a little disheartening.”

— Amber Mitchell, Jillian's mother (wtol.com)

“It's very overwhelming. My heart breaks for everything that she's gone through, for the choices that she's made.”

— Amber Mitchell, Jillian's mother (wtol.com)

“It's exciting because more options have opened up. But it's also like I need to crack down a little more, and they're not going to accept a lot. So I just got to look wherever the wind takes me.”

— Jillian Mitchell (wtol.com)

What’s next

Several schools, including the University of Toledo, Walsh University and Trine University, have offered to help ease the transfer process for Lourdes students. It is unclear whether any of those options will work for the Mitchell family as they weigh their next steps.

The takeaway

The sudden closure of Lourdes University has disrupted Jillian Mitchell's college soccer plans, forcing her and her family to restart the recruiting process on short notice. This situation highlights the challenges student-athletes can face when their chosen college unexpectedly closes, and the importance of having backup plans and flexibility when navigating the college application and recruitment process.