When asked to describe Celeste Forte, Florida head coach Amanda O’Leary characterized her as a competitor, a hard worker and a great teammate and person.
Her sister, Mia Forte, described her as a leader.
Throughout her career, Celeste showcased her athletic and leadership abilities playing lacrosse for Florida.
Celeste had a lot of pent-up energy growing up in Manorville, New York. She got into sports in elementary school after discovering soccer. Soon after, her coach suggested she pick up a spring sport: lacrosse.
Celeste decided to give it a try.
“I did not like it at first, because I liked being good at what I was playing, and of course, being a new sport, I was like, ‘I'm not good at this,’” Celeste said. “But I continued to go, and I ended up really loving it.”
Celeste and Mia grew up playing lacrosse. They practiced together, joined travel teams and competed at the varsity level in high school.
Celeste constantly pushed herself and those around her to work hard and be the best versions of themselves. Her competitiveness propelled her to success, Mia said.
“I loved playing with her, and I've always trained with her, always played with her in the backyard,” Mia said. “Celeste is a very competitive person. She really wants to push not only herself but people around her.”
Her spirit drove her to pursue her dream of playing collegiate lacrosse, and the New York native found a new home in Gainesville.
“The minute that I sat down with her and her family, I just knew she was the perfect person to represent our program [and] university,” Amanda O’Leary said. “I just thought she would be a perfect fit for us.”
Celeste played 12 games her freshman year before suffering a knee injury that forced her to sit out the rest of the season.
She didn’t let the injury discourage her. Her recovery inspired her to work harder, O’Leary said.
“She used it as motivation and came back better, stronger,” O’Leary said. “Her journey was one that was filled with adversity, but she learned from that adversity. She embraced that adversity and thrived in that.”
Celeste helped her teammates any way she could while benched, becoming a leader within the team, she said.
“When she sustained that injury and she wasn't able to play, she was still very much a huge part of our team and our success,” O’Leary said. “She was in that locker room encouraging people. She was on the practice field literally being a coach out there, and her teammates respect her. They love her.”
Celeste’s leadership shone throughout the rest of her collegiate career.
With 19 turnovers and 27 ground balls, she was a key player for the Gators’ defense in 2025. She received Big XII Defensive Player of the Week honors during the season.
Celeste attributed part of her success to her team. Having great teammates pushed her to improve, she said.
Celeste helped lead Florida to two consecutive Final Four appearances in 2024 and 2025. Reaching the Final Four and playing at Gillette Stadium is her favorite memory from her athletic career, she said.
“It was an insane experience,” Celeste said. “To be able to do it two years in a row, when nobody really thought we were going to make it there the first time, and then make it back the next time, it was surreal.”
After securing the Big XII championship, she graduated from UF alongside her senior teammates.
While her D1 lacrosse career has reached its end, Celeste said she hopes to keep the sport in her life in any way she can.
Mia plays lacrosse at Binghamton University, and Celeste is looking forward to rooting for her sister at her games.
“I'm excited to be able to watch her in her college games, because she's been able to watch my college games,” Celeste said.
Her sister is looking forward to it as well.
“I think that [with] her coming to my games, I'm going to be the happiest girl,” Mia said.
Celeste is now working as an account executive for a cognitive training company.
Her experiences on and off the field will carry into the workforce and the rest of her life, she said.
“[I learned] to not take everything so serious and to know that obviously constructive criticism is the best thing that you can get, because it helps you grow as a person,” Celeste said.
Contact Nicole Lopez at nlopez@alligator.org. Follow her on X @lopeznicole715.
