The lacrosse program at RM does not only build a closely bonded team, but it prepares players for their future careers. Conor Coil and Kieran Chai-Onn of the class of 2021 committed to play lacrosse at Earlham College and Vassar College starting this school year. Despite big changes that have come, RM lacrosse prepared them with many of the essential skills necessary to be successful athletes in college.

“Lacrosse here is more year round, compared to RM,” Vassar lacrosse commit Kieran Chai-Onn said. “There’s more of an aspect of training, you focus a lot on getting better on and off the field year round.” Unlike at RM, his coaches focus heavily on lifting, scheduling team lifts three  times each week on top of practices.

Balancing the pressures of academics and athletics is something that took Earlham Lacrosse commit Conor Coil a little while to perfect. “At first it was an adjustment because, yes, more time goes into it, and practicing with your team isn’t enough, you have to follow a schedule. But now, I’ve figured out a schedule where I have time designated for school work, workouts, practice and activities,” Coil said. 

The two lacrosse freshman feel their experiences at RM prepared them with many of the skills needed in college athletics. “Playing lacrosse in RM was really just a great setup for this,” Coil said. “All my coaches at RM were very organized and structured, similar to here. They focused a lot on showing up on time, which is something that my coaches here value.” 

Both boys have been able to build good relationships with their new teams as well. “They (college athletes) are playing for their love of the game, not just playing to play a high school sport, ” Chai-Onn said. Having the same intense passion for lacrosse has brought him significantly closer to his teammates. “That drive from loving the game is what brings us together on and off the field,” Chai-Onn said.

Both Chai-Onn and Coil’s schedules have tightened as college athletes. They have to do a lot more personal planning than they did in high school. Chai-Onn usually wakes up around 7 a.m. each morning, while Coil similarly wakes up around 6:30 a.m. “After (practice) we go eat, and then you do your homework, but you’re usually very tired by the end of the day,” Chai-Onn said. As student athletes, they are constantly being pulled in two different directions, so it takes a lot of self-discipline to balance training and studies.

For those looking to play sports in college, both boys offered advice on going down that path. “Look amongst all your offers, but pick the school that is best for you academically. Find what college can set you up for what you want to do in the future,” Coil said. 

“If you really wanna do it, go after it. Find a school you like, but don’t sacrifice your happiness to play. At the end of the day sports aren’t forever,” Chai-Onn said.