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Why did you choose to play Division 3 lacrosse?
"I grew up wanting to play D1, but I went to a big-time recruiting event my sophomore year of high school and had a couple of realizations.
What were the positives to playing Division 3 Lacrosse, and the negatives?
"The positives for me included a balance between lacrosse, school, and friends, having the opportunity to get a lot of play time and have an impact on the field, and a smaller school environment. Also, because there are limitations regarding mandatory workouts and practices, our team learned how to take responsibility for the extra work we were putting in when not at an official practice. This taught us a lot about the importance of working hard when no one else was watching and it solidified our tight group of friends. We were all putting in extra work together and because we wanted to do it for the team. That kind of grind build deep, long-lasting friendships."
How have you been able to tie your creativity into your work at ECD?
"I love drawing, messing around with graphic design, taking photos, shooting videos, and more or less just making cool stuff. That is pretty much what I do for a living now and it’s a blast. I put together the initial designs and renderings for all of our heads, I design our apparel and stickers, I take a lot of our photos, I used to shoot and edit videos, I write copy, I design packaging… I am beyond fortunate that the things I love doing are now my job.
At Etown, I sat with Greg and Mike in a number of classes, and we hung out all the time. In class, they would watch me draw in my notebooks (while still participating and getting good grades). That stuck with them and when they decided Greg needed a hand in marketing and they wanted to start designing heads, they believed my drawing ability, paired with my interests in photography and marketing would be a good fit. They put a lot of faith in my creativity and skillset and I am thankful for that every day. "
What are the next steps for ECD?
"We have a ton planned on the product side, but one of our main focuses is making people’s lives better through lacrosse. Lacrosse has given us a lot and we want to pass that along to others. So, whether that means providing a fun work environment and great benefits for employees, donating sticks to someone in need, teaching someone how to play or string, providing business advice, or helping students with our scholarship fund, we are just looking to improve lives. That is a real team effort, but Mike and Greg lead the charge there. On a daily basis, they are taking time away from their jobs to help improve the lives of others. The rest of us are inspired by that and follow their lead."
How would you describe the atmosphere working at ECD?
"It’s an absolute blast. A lot of people who visit say “it’s like a lacrosse fantasy factory” and honestly that’s not far from the truth. We work hard, but we have a ton of fun doing it and no one here takes themselves too seriously. When you boil it down, all we are is a big group of hard-working friends making lacrosse gear. This is a place that you can’t wait to get back to, even when you are on an amazing vacation."
What was your recruiting process like and what advice would you give on the recruiting process?
"It has been a long time since I was in that process and a lot has changed since I was in it, but I think three pieces of advice remain true:
What is your pregame song?
"That depends on the day. This past fall season, I was listening to a lot of De La Soul. In the summer it was usually Pepper. But some classics that I always go back to are “Hate It or Love It” by the Game, “Down” by 311, and “Knock, Knock” by Mac Miller. At Etown, we had a song called “Galapagos” by Digital DAO on our warmup mix. I can’t find the song anywhere these days, but it always got the boys going."
What do you think lacrosse needs to do as a whole to help elevate the game to become a more nationally recognized sport?
"This is a great question. I think we need more eyes on games on more sticks in hands. There are some unbelievable athletes out there who have never heard of lacrosse or don’t have a way to play. If we can capture some of those athletes, I think it would go a long way."
What is one thing you’d tell your younger self?
Every now and then stop and soak in everything that’s going on in your life. It’s a cliché, but time flies, so you must focus on enjoying the now.
What has been your favorite release at ECD?
"I could probably pick out a dozen that are my favorites for different reasons. For the Rebels, we got to shoot the commercial with some of my best friends and extremely talented videographers, Adam and Jason Koontz (Born Rival). Getting to watch them work was incredible. For HeroMesh colors, we got to throw balloons of paint at Brendan Mundorf. For the DNA Diamond, we reintroduced clear heads to lacrosse. But my all-time favorite has to be the original Mirage. Being able to play with a head we designed and made, then watching those heads be used by players all over the world was unforgettable. I grew up drawing heads in my notebooks and with that release, one of my drawings came to life. It was a surreal feeling."
You’re on a road trip, what 3 items are you grabbing from the gas station?
"Blue Gatorade, black coffee, and a soft pretzel."
"I grew up wanting to play D1, but I went to a big-time recruiting event my sophomore year of high school and had a couple of realizations.
- There was a gap in talent. I was pretty good, but the kids at this event were unbelievable.
- Playing in games was more important to me than being able to say “I play D1”.
What were the positives to playing Division 3 Lacrosse, and the negatives?
"The positives for me included a balance between lacrosse, school, and friends, having the opportunity to get a lot of play time and have an impact on the field, and a smaller school environment. Also, because there are limitations regarding mandatory workouts and practices, our team learned how to take responsibility for the extra work we were putting in when not at an official practice. This taught us a lot about the importance of working hard when no one else was watching and it solidified our tight group of friends. We were all putting in extra work together and because we wanted to do it for the team. That kind of grind build deep, long-lasting friendships."
How have you been able to tie your creativity into your work at ECD?
"I love drawing, messing around with graphic design, taking photos, shooting videos, and more or less just making cool stuff. That is pretty much what I do for a living now and it’s a blast. I put together the initial designs and renderings for all of our heads, I design our apparel and stickers, I take a lot of our photos, I used to shoot and edit videos, I write copy, I design packaging… I am beyond fortunate that the things I love doing are now my job.
At Etown, I sat with Greg and Mike in a number of classes, and we hung out all the time. In class, they would watch me draw in my notebooks (while still participating and getting good grades). That stuck with them and when they decided Greg needed a hand in marketing and they wanted to start designing heads, they believed my drawing ability, paired with my interests in photography and marketing would be a good fit. They put a lot of faith in my creativity and skillset and I am thankful for that every day. "
What are the next steps for ECD?
"We have a ton planned on the product side, but one of our main focuses is making people’s lives better through lacrosse. Lacrosse has given us a lot and we want to pass that along to others. So, whether that means providing a fun work environment and great benefits for employees, donating sticks to someone in need, teaching someone how to play or string, providing business advice, or helping students with our scholarship fund, we are just looking to improve lives. That is a real team effort, but Mike and Greg lead the charge there. On a daily basis, they are taking time away from their jobs to help improve the lives of others. The rest of us are inspired by that and follow their lead."
How would you describe the atmosphere working at ECD?
"It’s an absolute blast. A lot of people who visit say “it’s like a lacrosse fantasy factory” and honestly that’s not far from the truth. We work hard, but we have a ton of fun doing it and no one here takes themselves too seriously. When you boil it down, all we are is a big group of hard-working friends making lacrosse gear. This is a place that you can’t wait to get back to, even when you are on an amazing vacation."
What was your recruiting process like and what advice would you give on the recruiting process?
"It has been a long time since I was in that process and a lot has changed since I was in it, but I think three pieces of advice remain true:
- Be honest with yourself about your ability and how hard you are willing to work to get to the next level.
- Figure out what your goals and priorities are.
- Don’t get discouraged.
What is your pregame song?
"That depends on the day. This past fall season, I was listening to a lot of De La Soul. In the summer it was usually Pepper. But some classics that I always go back to are “Hate It or Love It” by the Game, “Down” by 311, and “Knock, Knock” by Mac Miller. At Etown, we had a song called “Galapagos” by Digital DAO on our warmup mix. I can’t find the song anywhere these days, but it always got the boys going."
What do you think lacrosse needs to do as a whole to help elevate the game to become a more nationally recognized sport?
"This is a great question. I think we need more eyes on games on more sticks in hands. There are some unbelievable athletes out there who have never heard of lacrosse or don’t have a way to play. If we can capture some of those athletes, I think it would go a long way."
What is one thing you’d tell your younger self?
Every now and then stop and soak in everything that’s going on in your life. It’s a cliché, but time flies, so you must focus on enjoying the now.
What has been your favorite release at ECD?
"I could probably pick out a dozen that are my favorites for different reasons. For the Rebels, we got to shoot the commercial with some of my best friends and extremely talented videographers, Adam and Jason Koontz (Born Rival). Getting to watch them work was incredible. For HeroMesh colors, we got to throw balloons of paint at Brendan Mundorf. For the DNA Diamond, we reintroduced clear heads to lacrosse. But my all-time favorite has to be the original Mirage. Being able to play with a head we designed and made, then watching those heads be used by players all over the world was unforgettable. I grew up drawing heads in my notebooks and with that release, one of my drawings came to life. It was a surreal feeling."
You’re on a road trip, what 3 items are you grabbing from the gas station?
"Blue Gatorade, black coffee, and a soft pretzel."