Shawn is a Finance major from Duxbury, MA. He is a captain and plays defense for our Lacrosse team.
What is it like to be an RWU student-athlete?
I love being a student-athlete at RWU and I have made some of my best friends through playing sports here. The athletic department, training staff, and coaches are always there for you with whatever it is, athletics or academics. They do not just want you to succeed as a player, but more importantly in the classroom and as a person. The facilities at RWU are great. Bayside Field is the best place in the conference to play a game. The fans are right on top of you and for teams that are not used to that it can be intimidating, giving RWU an advantage. Lastly, the student body is very supportive of the sports team here. Every game feels like a playoff game; they are loud, proud, and pack the stands which shows tremendous school spirit. Becoming a student-athlete here at RWU is one of the best decisions I have made.
What experience or event at RWU has been the most enjoyable/memorable so far?
One of my favorite events every year is playing Salve Regina for the Quahog Cup. My first two years we beat them; however last year we unfortunately lost in a tough game. But this year is a big year and we’re determined to get the cup back to Roger Williams!
Another extremely memorable event was during my freshman year when we played Endicott at home. This was our senior game and alumni weekend. As a player on the team, we could not have asked for a better day for it weather wise. Even though we lost the game in overtime, it was an unbelievable game to be a part of. It was back and forth action for the whole game, with multiple lead changes. This was so enjoyable because of the energy of the game and all of the fans there showing support. There was not an empty seat to be found and everyone was on their feet, cheering the entire game.
How have you handled the academic and athletic demands?
Major: Finance with a minor in Accounting. Balancing both academics and lacrosse was tough at first but once I got into a routine, I found it very manageable. Coach Kelly has the Lacrosse team in study hall for 4-6 hours a week, which is very beneficial for our team since it gives us a time block just to focus on just school- work without any distraction. Also, I make sure to get my school work done before lacrosse each day since I know that I will be tired after practices or games. Lastly, I make sure to look at our lacrosse schedule in advance to see when I may not have as much time to do school work due to a long bus ride or a game, and then budget my time accordingly.
What are you most looking forward to this year on the lacrosse team?
I am really looking forward to this upcoming lacrosse year for many reasons. Our team has a lot of experience since so many of the younger kids got a lot of playing time last year. Also, there may be a new rule change throughout all of NCAA Lacrosse. These new rules are created to make the game of lacrosse faster, which I believe will help out our team and not really change the way we run our system as Coach Kelly always wants us to play fast, and beat our opponents in transition. This rule change makes me excited for next year since it helps our team style of play and hopefully, we can have another successful season.
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