CIAC Glory Days Podcast host Jada Mirabelle is joined by Fairfield Prep Lacrosse, one of the top high school lacrosse programs in the country! Featuring two Division I commits, Finbar Malloy and Luke Shannehan, this episode dives into the team's unmatched chemistry, winning culture, and their driving force: the #BeTheBest mentality led by Head Coach Graham Niemi.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to CIAC's Glory Days Podcast.
I'm your host, Jada Maribel,and today I'm joined by the 2024
Class LL Boys Lacrosse StateChampions, Fairfield Prep.
I'm joined by Luke Shanahan,Coach Graham Neamey and Finbar
Malloy.
Thank you guys for joining metoday.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
So take us to that championship game in June.
You guys came out focused.
You came out really strong.
Luke, you scored a hat trick,and so did your brother.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
And.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Finbar, you also had a really sick goal.
That was a really good goal sotake us into that game plan and
that mindset heading into thatmatchup.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I guess I can start.
I mean, we played in the firstgame of the year, I mean, and
you know you go back to that andsay you know we were down two
goals late in the game and Ithink there was a timeout and a
lot of guys were complaining andbellyaching.
I'll just say that nicely.
I think I said something alongthe lines of like instead of
finding a reason, find a way.
You know, I probably was alittle more aggressive than that
(00:51):
in that moment and the boys dida great job.
I think these two had thegame-winning assist.
Sorry, you cut it to one with agoal and his assist, and then
we tied it or won it with yourassist and his goal.
And so the boys, you know, inthat moment, needed to figure
out a way to win it, find a wayto win a game, and they did.
And you know, playing themagain 21 games later isn't easy,
you know, because we all change.
(01:12):
And you know we felt like wedefinitely had a little bit of a
face-off advantage.
They definitely had atremendous lineup.
I mean, I would argue theirlineup won the 10.
It, I would argue their lineup1-10, was better than ours.
Sorry, guys, but I thought we'dhave the ball a little bit more
, and if we could clear the balland not foul over the course of
the game, that would benefit usa ton.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
So, Luke and Finbar, talk about your mindset coming
into it in those high-pressureplayoff games.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Yeah, I think for us I mean, we take it game by game,
Like we never really know whatwe're going into.
But especially for that game, Ithink we got our matchups we
wanted.
We did a lot of study, a lot offilm work and from the first
game we knew how players play.
So, yeah, I think we came intothe game pretty juiced up and,
(01:59):
yeah, it was fun.
Warms were fun.
We always have a big crowd atgames so we try to do that.
So yeah, we kinda keep the bombsquad juiced up.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
So yeah, I think bomb squad always shows up.
Yeah, always, yeah, they do.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Yeah, and just kind of adding on that, like the last
game of the season obviously,like there's not a lot of
secrets, like they know us, weknow them from summer ball and
like we play them earlier and weknow a bunch of those kids.
So it really just comes down toyou know playing hard.
And coach Nehme always says,like ground balls, like the
hustle plays, like you got tolead the league and hustle plays
, and I think that really helpedus last year and it's something
(02:33):
that we should and we've beenkind of honing in on as we move
forward this year.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
so Like I try to remind these guys we can't.
We got to live minute to minute.
There's 48 minutes in the highschool lacrosse game.
You know you play them oneminute at a time and the moment
your mind's on the end of thegame it's not on what you've got
to do, what the task is rightin front of you.
You know you can't look too farahead.
You know the old 200 feet jokeis the one I like.
You know when your car isdriving at night and your high
beams are on you can only see200, any point in the game.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
That's a good point.
It's like that next playmentality.
You just live in the moment.
So, luke and Finbar, you'veboth earned Division I
commitments.
You've verbally committed toMichigan and you've verbally
committed to Rutgers.
Congratulations, that's awesomeachievements, thank you.
So what do you think has playedthe biggest role in helping you
earn those two D1 commitments?
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Yeah, that's a great question.
I that kind of, for mepersonally, kind of just having
like a multi-sport backgroundand just kind of really honing
in on being like an athlete hasreally helped me in just like
specifically lacrosse,especially for like kind of like
more of like a dodging type,just like obviously I have a
football background and thencoach nemi was helping us out in
(03:39):
winter with like indoor trackand stuff.
I think that just like thatcross sport, that background has
really benefited me forlacrosse especially.
And I think just you know,obviously going to Fairfield
Prep, you know playing in thebig games, getting a bunch of
attention there from collegecoaches, so really all you got
to do is just show up and playand like everything else is just
(04:01):
kind of provided for you, whichis just a great blessing to be
here at Prep.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
That's a great answer .
Yeah, yeah, um, I would secondthat I mean we both play
football and lacrosse.
Um, we've been playing since wewere like fourth grade on the
fairfield giants state statechamps, um, but uh, yeah, I
think uh, every day, likewhether we go out to the field,
me, finn and a couple of kids um, we're always working on our
footwork and I think, especiallybecause in lacrosse you're
always doing footwork and infootball you're always doing
footwork, so I think just beingan athlete is a big part of that
(04:32):
.
And yeah, like he said, we wereplaying these big games.
Coach Neves is scheduling somereally big games and I think
that's catching the eye of somecollege coaches as well,
definitely, that's what I wasgoing to ask.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Do you think there were any specific moments that
stuck out to recruiters in yourcareers?
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Yeah, I would just say like kind of like those big
games, especially down like theplayoff stretch, like obviously
like the semifinals we play atRafferty Stadium usually every
year it's like one of the bestnights of the year, packed house
a bunch.
There's a lot of eyes on likethose games, along with like the
(05:07):
state championship, and I thinkjust that, um, just having uh
like being that stage beingprovided for us has really
helped us in our recruiting yeah, you saw the eyes on you in
those high pressure, exactlyhigh pressure games yeah,
there's no pressure, ratherhaving fun man the other team's
feeling the pressure.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
We're not.
Yeah, that's a good thing tothink about it.
Yeah, try, I try, to feel thatway.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
So were there any training habits that you
implemented throughout your fouryears of Fairfield Prep that
helped you really develop, orwas it just the everyday showing
up for Fairfield?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Prep.
I say something about theseguys real quick.
I mean I'm gonna jump in.
Like these two are like reallyelite athletes and this kid here
has worked really hard on howhe moves.
He moves so well and this guyis a really quick, twitch, fast,
like athletic kid and I givehim a lot of credit for all the
work they put in on their bodiesand their athleticism and
they're still developing.
They're still getting better.
It's the best part aboutwatching them.
(05:52):
You know they're not done yet.
You know in three, four yearsthey're going to be totally
different than the way they areright now.
But like they both workedreally hard on how they move and
I think that's what you seefrom them on the lacrosse field
especially, more than anything.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
And that shows work, ethic and dedication.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Yeah, absolutely.
I think that like personallyfor me, like kind of like
earlier in my life, when Ireally started like working out
like more off field, it was kindof like more about lifting
weights but over like the pastfew years I know Coach Nimi,
like you mentioned, and he's theindoor track guy.
Yeah, he's talking about likeit's all about movement, like
movement is medicine.
So I think that like gettingout and just like sprinting more
(06:28):
and just like being moreathletic has really helped me
for my training in all areas.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Yeah, I've been through some injuries, so yeah,
and like I've missed 2023,season 2020, a little bit of
some seasons.
But yeah, I think it's justcoming back from those injuries,
like trying to be better than Iwas before.
So yeah, I think that, like,physical therapy helped me a lot
(06:55):
for multiple injuries and, yeah, the coaches helped me a lot.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Well, you grew really fast, yeah, Not to get off
topic here, but I mean, hewasn't this big.
What summer did you grow afteryour freshman year?
After?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
freshman year.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yeah, I mean he grew like I mean it must have been
six inches, I think, at the endof the season.
I was like, looking at him,like okay, he's not that tall
and I came out for a footballworkout to watch and he's like I
, these guys, that happens toyoung people, right, their
bodies change, yeah, and you getback issues, you get hip issues
, your muscles, you know yourbones go one way and your
(07:27):
muscles got to join them andthat doesn't always work out
that well.
That's why I do think like somuch of the movement stuff for
these guys makes a bigdifference, because then your
body can adapt to how you'vegrown and changed.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
That's very true.
Yeah, and even with injuries,like with recovery too, if
you're.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah, these guys probably don't take much time
off.
I'm guessing.
No, yeah, a couple days offonce in a while.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
You've got later in your life to take off right.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah, we try to take good care of them though.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
As of filming this today, the season hasn't
officially kicked off yet, butyou're already ranked 21
nationally, and this isn't thefirst year that you've been
ranked nationally, soachievement yeah.
So what can you share about thelevel of team chemistry that
has allowed you to achieve thisnational ranking?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Well, I mean the rankings always based on what
happened the year before.
You know, so when you go 21 and1 and have the kind of season
that we had, that just comeswith it.
You know, and we do return alot of players we had a couple
and we added, added a couple, acouple kids transferred to the
school which will help us.
So but you know, the big thingis like we just have a great, we
have a great team culture, thestandards are high and it really
(08:27):
starts with that.
You know, we go into every yearjust saying, guys, the
standards are high, theexpectations are high for us.
You know, typically just aboutyou know we're the biggest team
we feel like on everybody'sschedule.
For the most part we talk aboutthat and and usually you know
the season the spring is soshort, so usually the season in
the spring is so short, sousually we don't go into it with
this like this is how we'regoing to play mindset.
We kind of come into the seasonand say, hey, we're going to
(08:48):
put some things in for the kids,let them start running them.
We get about 10 or 11 days ofpractice and three scrimmage
days before we play tomorrow andthen tomorrow we go out and we
try to just problem solve and dothe best that we can.
With what?
Speaker 1 (08:59):
we have.
That's good.
That's good.
So let's talk about theupcoming matchup for the season.
Which games are you mostlooking forward to and which
ones do you think will be thebiggest?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
challenges.
Well, tomorrow we only have onegame.
It's tomorrow, is that right?
Yeah, yeah, we're excited abouttomorrow.
I mean we did talk a littleyesterday.
We have five games in our first10 days of the season, or 11
days, whatever it is so we'vegoing to be served with some
adversity.
It really is.
I haven't given these guys anyadversity yet.
Sometimes I do that in practice, but tomorrow they're going to
(09:27):
get it.
There's definitely going to bea moment tomorrow's game when
it's like, okay, this is notgoing how we planned and how
these guys and the coachingstaff manages.
That is really what's the bigthing about tomorrow, I think
going into it, for me at least.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
That first game really helped set the tone.
You've got a lot of new playersplaying together.
You've got to figure out howthey'll work with one another.
So you have a challengingschedule and a lot of
out-of-state matchups.
How does that help prepare youfor the in-state competition?
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Am I talking?
Speaker 1 (09:50):
too much, I'll go third you guys go and then I'll.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
yeah, you did say I'm talking too much, didn't?
Speaker 4 (09:54):
you yeah, yeah, kind of, like you said, Coach Ne, out
of state schedule of teamscoming down I think California
this year, which is pretty crazy.
But you know, obviously all theblue bloods that we usually
play like Chaminade and we go onlike the New Jersey tear and I
think, More than anything, thephysicality of those teams.
(10:15):
They come and they rough us upa little so that when we get
back into the state we're alittle bit more physically ready
for the more regular games thatwe play and then also, as we
get into the state tournament.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
I think the schedule that I make provides the kids
with the opportunity to be thenumber one seed in the state
tournament.
That is one of our goals wehaven't really talked too much
about this yet as a group, butwe're going to is to be the
number one seed in the statetournament.
We want to be, and so it's kindof nice to have a little taste
of all of it.
Right, we go to Long Island andplay.
We go to Jersey and play.
We're lucky enough to say,natchez, from California, added
us to the schedule, whichthey're a talented group and
(10:51):
their us is we're there.
It'll be our fifth game andit'll be there.
I think it's their 17th game.
Um, so, yeah, right, so well, Imean there's good and bad in
that, right.
So I mean we're a little, maybewe're a little behind and some
things we might have in areready to go, but we'll see a lot
of them and they will not haveseen a lot of us.
So you will see how that, howthat, shakes out when we play
them.
If they want to come here everyyear, I'll host them.
(11:11):
Ignatius, you're watching, I'm.
Every year.
I want a home game.
You know me.
I don't like to travel.
Finbar knows right.
I want to be home.
I love being a referee.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
I want to be home every chance I get.
You don't want to go to.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
California.
That would be a little bit of ahike?
Speaker 1 (11:28):
No, I don't think I'm taking these guys to California
.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
So Luke and Finbar, you're the biggest vocal leader
on the team.
I mean, I think just likeleading by example is a really
big part.
I mean one of the good thingsabout this year we're really
deep in talent.
We have like three really solidmidfield lines that can go and
play wherever.
So I think just leading theteam and just trying to be the
(11:53):
best or like whenever orwhichever or what, whichever
game, um, and kind of just likelead by example especially, yeah
, that's sometimes moreeffective than you don't have to
be vocal.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Yeah, by example is sometimes what gets the message
through yeah, uh, just kind ofto add on that uh, we got a you
know a bunch of young guys,especially on the defensive side
, just kind of enabling in themthat you know they're, they're
in a good spot and like theydon't really have to like worry
about too much because you knowthey're.
Like Coach Epstein says helikes to joke around with me and
(12:24):
say, like go up to that kid andsay like I was way worse than
you were as a sophomore, soyou're going to be just fine.
So like just kind of creatingthat confidence and especially a
lot of the younger guys, Ithink is a role that is really
important and that I could takecare of.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
And you have the brotherhood here too, which is
so nice.
That really makes a bigdifference on the field as well.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Some of the stuff these guys do away from.
Lacrosse helps the team dinners, the getting together away from
the field is great too, andthese guys are hard workers.
So we'll end practice some days, like today, maybe, hopefully,
get out of there early andthere'll be a window where they
can stay and that's a great timefor them to pull, you know, a
younger guy, pull a sophomoreand go hey, we're going to go
down and shoot for 15 minutestogether before we go home, you
(13:06):
know, and that's what these guyscan do to really help us come
together.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Yeah, methods or coaching strategies have you
found the most effective forthis team that you've
implemented?
Going?
Speaker 2 (13:18):
down that road.
I thought I was going to talkabout speed and stuff.
Theo said don't talk about it.
Well, I mean I will say this.
I mean I think you know twoyears ago in 2022, we lost the
state semifinals.
Unfortunately, that year JimmyMcGrath was murdered.
There's a lot of reasons thatthat didn't go.
The whole season kind of endedthe way it ended.
We were hurt.
I mean that year we were hurt.
I mean there was.
(13:38):
I can tell stories about.
You know, we played Cheshireand I remember in the fourth
quarter I looked out on thefield and there were six kids
playing offense in a tie gamethat had never played together
before.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
I think you were one of them, I think you were on
attack at that point.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Yeah, tony Valance is my defensive coordinator,
teaches history here.
The two of us like kind oflooking at each other, like well
, how are we gonna not let thishappen again?
You know, because in a highschool season, like I've said a
few times, it's so short.
I only have, I have such asmall amount of time with these
guys, like the most importantthing is their availability.
It's the most important thingis their health and availability
.
I want every kid to be so.
(14:13):
We went into the fall, westarted doing our usual kids who
don't play football and soccer,whatever, started training and
I'm looking at the guys going.
You could see like they werekind of it's what we had been
doing before.
And so I had reached out tothis guy, tony Holler, who's a
science teacher and a highschool track coach in north of
Chicago, and I've been followinghim a little bit on Instagram
and Twitter and I'm readingabout this stuff and I'm like
(14:34):
maybe I have this all wrong.
You know I was like I'd been,I'd come from the school of.
You know the practice should bethe hardest thing you do and it
should be harder than the games, because the games feel easy,
you know, and this guy's sayingthe opposite.
You know he's saying you know,maybe the game should be the
hardest thing we do.
Maybe I should keep my teamfresh going into a game.
(14:55):
Maybe I should keep my teamfresh going into a game.
Maybe I shouldn't beat them upall week and then going into a
game.
They're mentally tired andphysically tired and we're not
fast and athletic.
And so kind of went down alittle bit of a rabbit hole and
we started doing some of thisFeed the Cat stuff.
I got involved in our trackprogram and for two years we
kind of had this like I wasstruggling with these girls
earlier.
That try it out is what I waskind of calling it to myself,
wasn't making them come but wastrying to create like a culture
(15:17):
with the track program thatwould attract better athletes,
especially my kids, in thewinter so we could train and get
ready for the season.
And with that I knew that someof them would be really good at
it and some of them might not bethat good at it.
But more importantly we werelike we were doing kind of a low
dosage, hot, you know maxvelocity, kind of training in
(15:37):
the winter and plus doing somemovement stuff and get in the
weight room.
We were kind of checking allthe boxes and we're 39 and 5
since and I mean, am I countingWill Essie as an injury?
Yes, will Essie.
We had one kid hurt a hamstringin basically that time and we've
(15:59):
had one kid miss a game outsideof will for a soft tissue
injury in two years.
So we've been healthy and andwe definitely there's days we
like.
A day like yesterday is a greatexample.
We played Wednesday atGreenwich and I'm like said to
the staff, there's three thingswe're gonna do today and they're
gonna be slow, they're notgonna be full speed, but we got
to get through them becausethey're mentally important and
and I think you guys leftpractice probably feeling pretty
good yesterday, yeah, andbecause the goal is on Saturday
to be the fastest and freshestwe can be Energized.
Yep, and, and, and, and, and.
(16:20):
We got to play to win a statechampionship.
You got to play 22 games in 10weeks, All right.
And so I've got to keep theseguys fresh mentally.
I've got to keep them freshphysically, and that's we.
That's the big thing that wechanged.
I think some days my stafflooks at me like I'm crazy.
Like some days my staff looksat me like I'm crazy, like I
love Ryan McClay.
He's one of our defensivecoaches and I.
He's like we don't practicehard enough.
(16:40):
I'm like but listen, man,you've got every guy you want.
They're healthy.
You know I can't control brokenstuff, right, right, bones,
shoulders, you know concussions,those are stuff that out of my
control.
But I can control their tissueand and and how healthy they are
.
So this team is healthy.
Right now we have a couplelittle bumps and bruises with,
you know, bones, but tissue-wisewe're healthy.
No hamstrings, no right, sorry,I'll do it, I got it I got it,
(17:03):
I got it.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Ideally that would be great, so let's hope everyone
stays healthy throughout theseason so we don't miss any
games.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Definitely that was a long answer.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
I apologize so heading into this next season
tomorrow.
If you had to choose one mottoor one mantra for the season,
what would it be?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
I mean, we always, like ever since I've been here,
we've had be the best, yeah, bethe best comes from the
University of Maryland.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
That's a Buddy Beardmore thing.
So we just want the boys to bethe best they can be every day.
You know, that's how we breakthe huddles.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
What life lessons have you all taken away from
high school lacrosse?
Coaching and playing, I don'tknow.
And playing, what's up?
Speaker 4 (17:35):
sir, yeah, that's a good question.
I would say just like honestly,just like kind of like the
discipline that comes from itall.
I mean like there's a.
I mean obviously you know youpractice there's and then you
play the game so you work hardand then hopefully you perform
well, so you know there's like areward for all the work you're
putting in and when you'rereally intentional and you know,
(17:57):
do that to the best of yourability and then hopefully the
games will pay off.
So I think kind of like thediscipline, so reward, like kind
of like reaping what you sowmentality.
That has, uh, really stuck outto me and been something that
I've learned and have applied to, you know, all different things
, like my relationships,academics, so it really goes a
lot further than athletics inthat sense.
(18:18):
So I think that's helped me alot yeah, that's really
important for life.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
You get what you put in yeah, exactly, yeah, yeah it
was like kind of similar.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
I was gonna say, um, like like things that I've
learned, um like uh, just kindof, yeah, stay in discipline,
like through practice.
I mean it's like it's never,like it's either going to be an
easy day or a hard day, but kindof just doing all like working
as hard as you can for the game.
(18:45):
I mean, yeah, you're going tohave a game, hopefully it's
going to be the easiest part,but, yeah, just stay working
hard, stay hungry.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Yeah, it's super important.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
I think for me I think I've grown to appreciate
as I've gotten older I'm almost51 now that being a part of a
team is special.
Not everybody gets to do that.
Yeah, that's one of the thingsI will say.
That's one of the things thatmakes this place really special
is I think everybody comes back.
I've been here now nine yearsand the one thing I see and tell
people all the time is thisplace everybody comes back and
(19:17):
see and tell people all the timeis like this place everybody
comes back.
You know, and and there areother places kids can go and
like some of these kids at thisschool have come and gone and I
think most of them that's funnythe ones that leave they come
back.
You know, when you graduatefrom here, everybody comes back,
like our college kids we have20, some kids playing in college
right now, like as soon astheir seasons over.
You know the first place theycome they come here they go
watch the games, to come topractice, see the guys.
I think that's one of thethings that makes Fairfield Prep
(19:39):
really special and I thinkdefinitely within our program
it's been great.
I always tell the seniors youwant the team to be better.
When you're gone, that meansyou left something behind.
You don't want to come back andhave the team not be any good.
That means you didn't do itright.
If you do it right the nextyear, we're better and that's
what these guys got to leave forthe next year's team.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
That speaks volumes.
They always come back and visit.
It speaks very highly of theschool and of the culture.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Yeah, I think this is one of those places I think
it's just one of those places.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
I think last year we had like a small bomb squad of
just all the college lacrosseplayers that we had Probably A
little college section.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Yeah, we had a little box, A little college section.
Yeah, we had a little a littlebomb squad for the state
championship.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
A little alumni yeah, that's awesome.
That was fun.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Yeah, that's definitely very special, yeah,
so now we're going to head intosome rapid fire questions.
So these are a surprise.
You just whatever first thingcomes to your mind, is this for
that?
It's for everyone.
We're going to go through.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
I would say Headlines by Drake.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Okay, finbar, one word to describe your playing
style.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
Versatile.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Okay, that's a good one, Coach.
What's more important?
Lacrosse, IQ or athleticism?
Speaker 2 (20:46):
Oh boy, Lacrosse IQ.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Luke any superstitions with your gear.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
Ooh, a lot, I do a lot superstitions with your gear
.
Oh, a lot, I do a lot.
I tape my stick the same way,tape my helmet the same way
across here.
But yeah, put my left thumbfirst before my right every time
.
Oh, okay, I asked the rightperson that question Do you
still sleep with the stickbefore the game or not?
Speaker 4 (21:08):
I never did that.
Did you used to do that?
No, I never did that.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
That's why I bought her a Luke.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
That's what I sleep with Ben Barton.
Best sports movie of all time,space Jam.
Coach, what's your go-tocoaching phrase?
I know we talked about a few ofthat.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Oh, boy, what are?
Speaker 1 (21:27):
we going to say they might know they probably should
ask them it's supposed to be asprint.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
It's supposed to be a sprint, oh yeah, they laughed
me on that one.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
No, I'd probably stay in the moment.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Stay in the moment, that's good Luke, who's your
lacrosse GOAT?
Speaker 3 (21:41):
GOAT Gosh, I don't know Tough one.
Yeah, I would say CJ Kirst islining it up right now.
He's up and coming, but yeah, Ithink he's Okay.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Spin bar best advice you've ever received.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Best advice I've ever received, Kind of like, I guess
I kind of said it earlier.
But you reap what you sow.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
So true Coach, most rewarding part of coaching.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Spending time with guys like this every day.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Okay, Luke, I had this written down before.
I didn't even know you weregoing to say it.
How do you taper stick?
Do you taper stick a certainway?
Because apparently it's asuperstition.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
Just like more than midway.
That's kind of it Just to holdboth my hands.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Okay, Finbar.
Pregame routine.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Kind of it starts the night before.
I eat chicken parm every nightbefore and then I do this kind
of stretching routine and thenthat's really it.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
That's a good routine with some chicken parm in it.
Coach most underrated skill inlacrosse.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Picking up brown balls.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Luke favorite trick shot.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Got to be the B-T-B.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Our biggest influence on your lacrosse career so far.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Honestly I guess Coach Nimi he's helped me out.
He's been coaching me for abunch of years, so kind of him
helping me out with recruitingand stuff.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Coach, how do you get players locked in for a game?
Speaker 2 (23:11):
What me?
Honestly, last year I didn'teven talk before the games.
I stopped doing it right theday before.
Yeah, yeah, you know I trustthem.
You know, I think every team'sdifferent.
This team certainly has a lotof older players.
I think that they'll I don'tthink they'll need me, you know,
and even last year, the year Istopped talking before the games
(23:32):
and I did it the day beforebecause I just wanted to say
what needed to be said and letthem do what they're supposed to
do.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
They trust them.
Oh yeah, definitely, luke.
When did you start playinglacrosse?
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Probably when I was like three and my dad played.
So yeah, just whenever I couldstand.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
Started young Finbar favorite sports besides lacrosse
.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Football Football besides lacrosse Ah, football
Football, yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
You should have known that.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Coach, what has been your most memorable moment of
coaching here at Fairfield Prep?
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Oh, besides.
Well, just boy, that's a toughone.
Besides, I mean the statechampionship game actually last
year would probably be that,honestly, it was probably the
game the SEC championship afterJunior McGrath died, the game
the SEC championship afterJunior McGrath died.
Just the way the guys handledthat was special.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
I remember seeing online when that happened there
was a rainbow over one of thegames in the sky, yeah that was
special the way the kids handledthemselves that night and the
way they went about it.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
I'll never forget that.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Yeah, that had to be a very difficult time, yeah.
So lastly, on the Glory Dayspodcast, we always like to wrap
up by asking what do you thinkthe purpose of high school
sports is?
Speaker 2 (24:40):
I'm gonna go last or first.
Why don't you guys go?
Speaker 3 (24:42):
first your choice um, I think, just do the most
sports as you can.
I mean, I think that, like,every like you only have, you
only have this cliche, but youonly live once.
So, like, do the most sportsyou can.
I think it really teaches youlife lessons.
Throughout each season you gothrough football, lacrosse,
whatever it is, basketball.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Definitely.
That's a great answer.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
Yeah, I think we kind of touched on this earlier, but
just kind of the relationshipsthat you're building.
I mean especially FairfieldPrep.
All the kids pretty much allare not our whole team, but a
lot of the kids grow up together, play sports together and we're
all best friends.
So being able to play with yourbest friends and go out and
chase state championships issomething you can't really
forget, so it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
That's awesome memories to have for the rest of
your life too.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
I would say I think sports teaches you how to work
and the kids that work get achance to find out how good they
are, for better or for worse.
I think they interviewed me in23 and I said this to the guy
from Game Time.
I said you know, the work youput in as an athlete is what
makes you a man, and not everykid gets to be go to Michigan or
(25:48):
go to Rutgers or play Maryland,like that right.
And some kids like they work ashard as they can and they maybe
never play, but they find outhow good they are with the work
and I think the work defines youand so I think that's what high
school sports teaches people.
It's a hard lesson sometimesfor some kids.
You know they don't get thesame stuff that these guys get,
but they also find out who theyare and I think that's probably
(26:09):
the most important lesson kidscan get out of it.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
That's a great answer .
Those values are so importantto take for the rest of your
life.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
No doubt.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Thank you all for joining me on the podcast today.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
You did great Thank you Best of luck this season.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
I hope you're able to come out with a back-to-back.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
We're going to try.
We're going to try.
Thanks for having us, of course.
Welcome to CIAC's Glory Days Podcast.
I'm your host, Jada Maribel,and today I'm joined by the 2024
Class LL Boys Lacrosse StateChampions, Fairfield Prep.
I'm joined by Luke Shanahan,Coach Graham Neamey and Finbar
Malloy.
Thank you guys for joining metoday.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
So take us to that championship game in June.
You guys came out focused.
You came out really strong.
Luke, you scored a hat trick,and so did your brother.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
And.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Finbar, you also had a really sick goal.
That was a really good goal sotake us into that game plan and
that mindset heading into thatmatchup.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I guess I can start.
I mean, we played in the firstgame of the year, I mean, and
you know you go back to that andsay you know we were down two
goals late in the game and Ithink there was a timeout and a
lot of guys were complaining andbellyaching.
I'll just say that nicely.
I think I said something alongthe lines of like instead of
finding a reason, find a way.
You know, I probably was alittle more aggressive than that
(00:51):
in that moment and the boys dida great job.
I think these two had thegame-winning assist.
Sorry, you cut it to one with agoal and his assist, and then
we tied it or won it with yourassist and his goal.
And so the boys, you know, inthat moment, needed to figure
out a way to win it, find a wayto win a game, and they did.
And you know, playing themagain 21 games later isn't easy,
you know, because we all change.
(01:12):
And you know we felt like wedefinitely had a little bit of a
face-off advantage.
They definitely had atremendous lineup.
I mean, I would argue theirlineup won the 10.
It, I would argue their lineup1-10, was better than ours.
Sorry, guys, but I thought we'dhave the ball a little bit more
, and if we could clear the balland not foul over the course of
the game, that would benefit usa ton.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
So, Luke and Finbar, talk about your mindset coming
into it in those high-pressureplayoff games.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Yeah, I think for us I mean, we take it game by game,
Like we never really know whatwe're going into.
But especially for that game, Ithink we got our matchups we
wanted.
We did a lot of study, a lot offilm work and from the first
game we knew how players play.
So, yeah, I think we came intothe game pretty juiced up and,
(01:59):
yeah, it was fun.
Warms were fun.
We always have a big crowd atgames so we try to do that.
So yeah, we kinda keep the bombsquad juiced up.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
So yeah, I think bomb squad always shows up.
Yeah, always, yeah, they do.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Yeah, and just kind of adding on that, like the last
game of the season obviously,like there's not a lot of
secrets, like they know us, weknow them from summer ball and
like we play them earlier and weknow a bunch of those kids.
So it really just comes down toyou know playing hard.
And coach Nehme always says,like ground balls, like the
hustle plays, like you got tolead the league and hustle plays
, and I think that really helpedus last year and it's something
(02:33):
that we should and we've beenkind of honing in on as we move
forward this year.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
so Like I try to remind these guys we can't.
We got to live minute to minute.
There's 48 minutes in the highschool lacrosse game.
You know you play them oneminute at a time and the moment
your mind's on the end of thegame it's not on what you've got
to do, what the task is rightin front of you.
You know you can't look too farahead.
You know the old 200 feet jokeis the one I like.
You know when your car isdriving at night and your high
beams are on you can only see200, any point in the game.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
That's a good point.
It's like that next playmentality.
You just live in the moment.
So, luke and Finbar, you'veboth earned Division I
commitments.
You've verbally committed toMichigan and you've verbally
committed to Rutgers.
Congratulations, that's awesomeachievements, thank you.
So what do you think has playedthe biggest role in helping you
earn those two D1 commitments?
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Yeah, that's a great question.
I that kind of, for mepersonally, kind of just having
like a multi-sport backgroundand just kind of really honing
in on being like an athlete hasreally helped me in just like
specifically lacrosse,especially for like kind of like
more of like a dodging type,just like obviously I have a
football background and thencoach nemi was helping us out in
(03:39):
winter with like indoor trackand stuff.
I think that just like thatcross sport, that background has
really benefited me forlacrosse especially.
And I think just you know,obviously going to Fairfield
Prep, you know playing in thebig games, getting a bunch of
attention there from collegecoaches, so really all you got
to do is just show up and playand like everything else is just
(04:01):
kind of provided for you, whichis just a great blessing to be
here at Prep.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
That's a great answer .
Yeah, yeah, um, I would secondthat I mean we both play
football and lacrosse.
Um, we've been playing since wewere like fourth grade on the
fairfield giants state statechamps, um, but uh, yeah, I
think uh, every day, likewhether we go out to the field,
me, finn and a couple of kids um, we're always working on our
footwork and I think, especiallybecause in lacrosse you're
always doing footwork and infootball you're always doing
footwork, so I think just beingan athlete is a big part of that
(04:32):
.
And yeah, like he said, we wereplaying these big games.
Coach Neves is scheduling somereally big games and I think
that's catching the eye of somecollege coaches as well,
definitely, that's what I wasgoing to ask.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Do you think there were any specific moments that
stuck out to recruiters in yourcareers?
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Yeah, I would just say like kind of like those big
games, especially down like theplayoff stretch, like obviously
like the semifinals we play atRafferty Stadium usually every
year it's like one of the bestnights of the year, packed house
a bunch.
There's a lot of eyes on likethose games, along with like the
(05:07):
state championship, and I thinkjust that, um, just having uh
like being that stage beingprovided for us has really
helped us in our recruiting yeah, you saw the eyes on you in
those high pressure, exactlyhigh pressure games yeah,
there's no pressure, ratherhaving fun man the other team's
feeling the pressure.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
We're not.
Yeah, that's a good thing tothink about it.
Yeah, try, I try, to feel thatway.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
So were there any training habits that you
implemented throughout your fouryears of Fairfield Prep that
helped you really develop, orwas it just the everyday showing
up for Fairfield?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Prep.
I say something about theseguys real quick.
I mean I'm gonna jump in.
Like these two are like reallyelite athletes and this kid here
has worked really hard on howhe moves.
He moves so well and this guyis a really quick, twitch, fast,
like athletic kid and I givehim a lot of credit for all the
work they put in on their bodiesand their athleticism and
they're still developing.
They're still getting better.
It's the best part aboutwatching them.
(05:52):
You know they're not done yet.
You know in three, four yearsthey're going to be totally
different than the way they areright now.
But like they both workedreally hard on how they move and
I think that's what you seefrom them on the lacrosse field
especially, more than anything.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
And that shows work, ethic and dedication.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
Yeah, absolutely.
I think that like personallyfor me, like kind of like
earlier in my life, when Ireally started like working out
like more off field, it was kindof like more about lifting
weights but over like the pastfew years I know Coach Nimi,
like you mentioned, and he's theindoor track guy.
Yeah, he's talking about likeit's all about movement, like
movement is medicine.
So I think that like gettingout and just like sprinting more
(06:28):
and just like being moreathletic has really helped me
for my training in all areas.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
Yeah, I've been through some injuries, so yeah,
and like I've missed 2023,season 2020, a little bit of
some seasons.
But yeah, I think it's justcoming back from those injuries,
like trying to be better than Iwas before.
So yeah, I think that, like,physical therapy helped me a lot
(06:55):
for multiple injuries and, yeah, the coaches helped me a lot.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Well, you grew really fast, yeah, Not to get off
topic here, but I mean, hewasn't this big.
What summer did you grow afteryour freshman year?
After?
Speaker 3 (07:06):
freshman year.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Yeah, I mean he grew like I mean it must have been
six inches, I think, at the endof the season.
I was like, looking at him,like okay, he's not that tall
and I came out for a footballworkout to watch and he's like I
, these guys, that happens toyoung people, right, their
bodies change, yeah, and you getback issues, you get hip issues
, your muscles, you know yourbones go one way and your
(07:27):
muscles got to join them andthat doesn't always work out
that well.
That's why I do think like somuch of the movement stuff for
these guys makes a bigdifference, because then your
body can adapt to how you'vegrown and changed.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
That's very true.
Yeah, and even with injuries,like with recovery too, if
you're.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Yeah, these guys probably don't take much time
off.
I'm guessing.
No, yeah, a couple days offonce in a while.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
You've got later in your life to take off right.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Yeah, we try to take good care of them though.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
As of filming this today, the season hasn't
officially kicked off yet, butyou're already ranked 21
nationally, and this isn't thefirst year that you've been
ranked nationally, soachievement yeah.
So what can you share about thelevel of team chemistry that
has allowed you to achieve thisnational ranking?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Well, I mean the rankings always based on what
happened the year before.
You know, so when you go 21 and1 and have the kind of season
that we had, that just comeswith it.
You know, and we do return alot of players we had a couple
and we added, added a couple, acouple kids transferred to the
school which will help us.
So but you know, the big thingis like we just have a great, we
have a great team culture, thestandards are high and it really
(08:27):
starts with that.
You know, we go into every yearjust saying, guys, the
standards are high, theexpectations are high for us.
You know, typically just aboutyou know we're the biggest team
we feel like on everybody'sschedule.
For the most part we talk aboutthat and and usually you know
the season the spring is soshort, so usually the season in
the spring is so short, sousually we don't go into it with
this like this is how we'regoing to play mindset.
We kind of come into the seasonand say, hey, we're going to
(08:48):
put some things in for the kids,let them start running them.
We get about 10 or 11 days ofpractice and three scrimmage
days before we play tomorrow andthen tomorrow we go out and we
try to just problem solve and dothe best that we can.
With what?
Speaker 1 (08:59):
we have.
That's good.
That's good.
So let's talk about theupcoming matchup for the season.
Which games are you mostlooking forward to and which
ones do you think will be thebiggest?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
challenges.
Well, tomorrow we only have onegame.
It's tomorrow, is that right?
Yeah, yeah, we're excited abouttomorrow.
I mean we did talk a littleyesterday.
We have five games in our first10 days of the season, or 11
days, whatever it is so we'vegoing to be served with some
adversity.
It really is.
I haven't given these guys anyadversity yet.
Sometimes I do that in practice, but tomorrow they're going to
(09:27):
get it.
There's definitely going to bea moment tomorrow's game when
it's like, okay, this is notgoing how we planned and how
these guys and the coachingstaff manages.
That is really what's the bigthing about tomorrow, I think
going into it, for me at least.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
That first game really helped set the tone.
You've got a lot of new playersplaying together.
You've got to figure out howthey'll work with one another.
So you have a challengingschedule and a lot of
out-of-state matchups.
How does that help prepare youfor the in-state competition?
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Am I talking?
Speaker 1 (09:50):
too much, I'll go third you guys go and then I'll.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
yeah, you did say I'm talking too much, didn't?
Speaker 4 (09:54):
you yeah, yeah, kind of, like you said, Coach Ne, out
of state schedule of teamscoming down I think California
this year, which is pretty crazy.
But you know, obviously all theblue bloods that we usually
play like Chaminade and we go onlike the New Jersey tear and I
think, More than anything, thephysicality of those teams.
(10:15):
They come and they rough us upa little so that when we get
back into the state we're alittle bit more physically ready
for the more regular games thatwe play and then also, as we
get into the state tournament.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
I think the schedule that I make provides the kids
with the opportunity to be thenumber one seed in the state
tournament.
That is one of our goals wehaven't really talked too much
about this yet as a group, butwe're going to is to be the
number one seed in the statetournament.
We want to be, and so it's kindof nice to have a little taste
of all of it.
Right, we go to Long Island andplay.
We go to Jersey and play.
We're lucky enough to say,natchez, from California, added
us to the schedule, whichthey're a talented group and
(10:51):
their us is we're there.
It'll be our fifth game andit'll be there.
I think it's their 17th game.
Um, so, yeah, right, so well, Imean there's good and bad in
that, right.
So I mean we're a little, maybewe're a little behind and some
things we might have in areready to go, but we'll see a lot
of them and they will not haveseen a lot of us.
So you will see how that, howthat, shakes out when we play
them.
If they want to come here everyyear, I'll host them.
(11:11):
Ignatius, you're watching, I'm.
Every year.
I want a home game.
You know me.
I don't like to travel.
Finbar knows right.
I want to be home.
I love being a referee.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
I want to be home every chance I get.
You don't want to go to.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
California.
That would be a little bit of ahike?
Speaker 1 (11:28):
No, I don't think I'm taking these guys to California
.
Speaker 3 (11:31):
So Luke and Finbar, you're the biggest vocal leader
on the team.
I mean, I think just likeleading by example is a really
big part.
I mean one of the good thingsabout this year we're really
deep in talent.
We have like three really solidmidfield lines that can go and
play wherever.
So I think just leading theteam and just trying to be the
(11:53):
best or like whenever orwhichever or what, whichever
game, um, and kind of just likelead by example especially, yeah
, that's sometimes moreeffective than you don't have to
be vocal.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Yeah, by example is sometimes what gets the message
through yeah, uh, just kind ofto add on that uh, we got a you
know a bunch of young guys,especially on the defensive side
, just kind of enabling in themthat you know they're, they're
in a good spot and like theydon't really have to like worry
about too much because you knowthey're.
Like Coach Epstein says helikes to joke around with me and
(12:24):
say, like go up to that kid andsay like I was way worse than
you were as a sophomore, soyou're going to be just fine.
So like just kind of creatingthat confidence and especially a
lot of the younger guys, Ithink is a role that is really
important and that I could takecare of.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
And you have the brotherhood here too, which is
so nice.
That really makes a bigdifference on the field as well.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Some of the stuff these guys do away from.
Lacrosse helps the team dinners, the getting together away from
the field is great too, andthese guys are hard workers.
So we'll end practice some days, like today, maybe, hopefully,
get out of there early andthere'll be a window where they
can stay and that's a great timefor them to pull, you know, a
younger guy, pull a sophomoreand go hey, we're going to go
down and shoot for 15 minutestogether before we go home, you
(13:06):
know, and that's what these guyscan do to really help us come
together.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Yeah, methods or coaching strategies have you
found the most effective forthis team that you've
implemented?
Going?
Speaker 2 (13:18):
down that road.
I thought I was going to talkabout speed and stuff.
Theo said don't talk about it.
Well, I mean I will say this.
I mean I think you know twoyears ago in 2022, we lost the
state semifinals.
Unfortunately, that year JimmyMcGrath was murdered.
There's a lot of reasons thatthat didn't go.
The whole season kind of endedthe way it ended.
We were hurt.
I mean that year we were hurt.
I mean there was.
(13:38):
I can tell stories about.
You know, we played Cheshireand I remember in the fourth
quarter I looked out on thefield and there were six kids
playing offense in a tie gamethat had never played together
before.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
I think you were one of them, I think you were on
attack at that point.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Yeah, tony Valance is my defensive coordinator,
teaches history here.
The two of us like kind oflooking at each other, like well
, how are we gonna not let thishappen again?
You know, because in a highschool season, like I've said a
few times, it's so short.
I only have, I have such asmall amount of time with these
guys, like the most importantthing is their availability.
It's the most important thingis their health and availability
.
I want every kid to be so.
(14:13):
We went into the fall, westarted doing our usual kids who
don't play football and soccer,whatever, started training and
I'm looking at the guys going.
You could see like they werekind of it's what we had been
doing before.
And so I had reached out tothis guy, tony Holler, who's a
science teacher and a highschool track coach in north of
Chicago, and I've been followinghim a little bit on Instagram
and Twitter and I'm readingabout this stuff and I'm like
(14:34):
maybe I have this all wrong.
You know I was like I'd been,I'd come from the school of.
You know the practice should bethe hardest thing you do and it
should be harder than the games, because the games feel easy,
you know, and this guy's sayingthe opposite.
You know he's saying you know,maybe the game should be the
hardest thing we do.
Maybe I should keep my teamfresh going into a game.
(14:55):
Maybe I should keep my teamfresh going into a game.
Maybe I shouldn't beat them upall week and then going into a
game.
They're mentally tired andphysically tired and we're not
fast and athletic.
And so kind of went down alittle bit of a rabbit hole and
we started doing some of thisFeed the Cat stuff.
I got involved in our trackprogram and for two years we
kind of had this like I wasstruggling with these girls
earlier.
That try it out is what I waskind of calling it to myself,
wasn't making them come but wastrying to create like a culture
(15:17):
with the track program thatwould attract better athletes,
especially my kids, in thewinter so we could train and get
ready for the season.
And with that I knew that someof them would be really good at
it and some of them might not bethat good at it.
But more importantly we werelike we were doing kind of a low
dosage, hot, you know maxvelocity, kind of training in
(15:37):
the winter and plus doing somemovement stuff and get in the
weight room.
We were kind of checking allthe boxes and we're 39 and 5
since and I mean, am I countingWill Essie as an injury?
Yes, will Essie.
We had one kid hurt a hamstringin basically that time and we've
(15:59):
had one kid miss a game outsideof will for a soft tissue
injury in two years.
So we've been healthy and andwe definitely there's days we
like.
A day like yesterday is a greatexample.
We played Wednesday atGreenwich and I'm like said to
the staff, there's three thingswe're gonna do today and they're
gonna be slow, they're notgonna be full speed, but we got
to get through them becausethey're mentally important and
and I think you guys leftpractice probably feeling pretty
good yesterday, yeah, andbecause the goal is on Saturday
to be the fastest and freshestwe can be Energized.
Yep, and, and, and, and, and.
(16:20):
We got to play to win a statechampionship.
You got to play 22 games in 10weeks, All right.
And so I've got to keep theseguys fresh mentally.
I've got to keep them freshphysically, and that's we.
That's the big thing that wechanged.
I think some days my stafflooks at me like I'm crazy.
Like some days my staff looksat me like I'm crazy, like I
love Ryan McClay.
He's one of our defensivecoaches and I.
He's like we don't practicehard enough.
(16:40):
I'm like but listen, man,you've got every guy you want.
They're healthy.
You know I can't control brokenstuff, right, right, bones,
shoulders, you know concussions,those are stuff that out of my
control.
But I can control their tissueand and and how healthy they are
.
So this team is healthy.
Right now we have a couplelittle bumps and bruises with,
you know, bones, but tissue-wisewe're healthy.
No hamstrings, no right, sorry,I'll do it, I got it I got it,
(17:03):
I got it.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
Ideally that would be great, so let's hope everyone
stays healthy throughout theseason so we don't miss any
games.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Definitely that was a long answer.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
I apologize so heading into this next season
tomorrow.
If you had to choose one mottoor one mantra for the season,
what would it be?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
I mean, we always, like ever since I've been here,
we've had be the best, yeah, bethe best comes from the
University of Maryland.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
That's a Buddy Beardmore thing.
So we just want the boys to bethe best they can be every day.
You know, that's how we breakthe huddles.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
What life lessons have you all taken away from
high school lacrosse?
Coaching and playing, I don'tknow.
And playing, what's up?
Speaker 4 (17:35):
sir, yeah, that's a good question.
I would say just like honestly,just like kind of like the
discipline that comes from itall.
I mean like there's a.
I mean obviously you know youpractice there's and then you
play the game so you work hardand then hopefully you perform
well, so you know there's like areward for all the work you're
putting in and when you'rereally intentional and you know,
(17:57):
do that to the best of yourability and then hopefully the
games will pay off.
So I think kind of like thediscipline, so reward, like kind
of like reaping what you sowmentality.
That has, uh, really stuck outto me and been something that
I've learned and have applied to, you know, all different things
, like my relationships,academics, so it really goes a
lot further than athletics inthat sense.
(18:18):
So I think that's helped me alot yeah, that's really
important for life.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
You get what you put in yeah, exactly, yeah, yeah it
was like kind of similar.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
I was gonna say, um, like like things that I've
learned, um like uh, just kindof, yeah, stay in discipline,
like through practice.
I mean it's like it's never,like it's either going to be an
easy day or a hard day, but kindof just doing all like working
as hard as you can for the game.
(18:45):
I mean, yeah, you're going tohave a game, hopefully it's
going to be the easiest part,but, yeah, just stay working
hard, stay hungry.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Yeah, it's super important.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
I think for me I think I've grown to appreciate
as I've gotten older I'm almost51 now that being a part of a
team is special.
Not everybody gets to do that.
Yeah, that's one of the thingsI will say.
That's one of the things thatmakes this place really special
is I think everybody comes back.
I've been here now nine yearsand the one thing I see and tell
people all the time is thisplace everybody comes back and
(19:17):
see and tell people all the timeis like this place everybody
comes back.
You know, and and there areother places kids can go and
like some of these kids at thisschool have come and gone and I
think most of them that's funnythe ones that leave they come
back.
You know, when you graduatefrom here, everybody comes back,
like our college kids we have20, some kids playing in college
right now, like as soon astheir seasons over.
You know the first place theycome they come here they go
watch the games, to come topractice, see the guys.
I think that's one of thethings that makes Fairfield Prep
(19:39):
really special and I thinkdefinitely within our program
it's been great.
I always tell the seniors youwant the team to be better.
When you're gone, that meansyou left something behind.
You don't want to come back andhave the team not be any good.
That means you didn't do itright.
If you do it right the nextyear, we're better and that's
what these guys got to leave forthe next year's team.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
That speaks volumes.
They always come back and visit.
It speaks very highly of theschool and of the culture.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Yeah, I think this is one of those places I think
it's just one of those places.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
I think last year we had like a small bomb squad of
just all the college lacrosseplayers that we had Probably A
little college section.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Yeah, we had a little box, A little college section.
Yeah, we had a little a littlebomb squad for the state
championship.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
A little alumni yeah, that's awesome.
That was fun.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Yeah, that's definitely very special, yeah,
so now we're going to head intosome rapid fire questions.
So these are a surprise.
You just whatever first thingcomes to your mind, is this for
that?
It's for everyone.
We're going to go through.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
I would say Headlines by Drake.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Okay, finbar, one word to describe your playing
style.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
Versatile.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Okay, that's a good one, Coach.
What's more important?
Lacrosse, IQ or athleticism?
Speaker 2 (20:46):
Oh boy, Lacrosse IQ.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
Luke any superstitions with your gear.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
Ooh, a lot, I do a lot superstitions with your gear
.
Oh, a lot, I do a lot.
I tape my stick the same way,tape my helmet the same way
across here.
But yeah, put my left thumbfirst before my right every time
.
Oh, okay, I asked the rightperson that question Do you
still sleep with the stickbefore the game or not?
Speaker 4 (21:08):
I never did that.
Did you used to do that?
No, I never did that.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
That's why I bought her a Luke.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
That's what I sleep with Ben Barton.
Best sports movie of all time,space Jam.
Coach, what's your go-tocoaching phrase?
I know we talked about a few ofthat.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
Oh, boy, what are?
Speaker 1 (21:27):
we going to say they might know they probably should
ask them it's supposed to be asprint.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
It's supposed to be a sprint, oh yeah, they laughed
me on that one.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
No, I'd probably stay in the moment.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Stay in the moment, that's good Luke, who's your
lacrosse GOAT?
Speaker 3 (21:41):
GOAT Gosh, I don't know Tough one.
Yeah, I would say CJ Kirst islining it up right now.
He's up and coming, but yeah, Ithink he's Okay.
Speaker 1 (21:56):
Spin bar best advice you've ever received.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
Best advice I've ever received, Kind of like, I guess
I kind of said it earlier.
But you reap what you sow.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
So true Coach, most rewarding part of coaching.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Spending time with guys like this every day.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Okay, Luke, I had this written down before.
I didn't even know you weregoing to say it.
How do you taper stick?
Do you taper stick a certainway?
Because apparently it's asuperstition.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
Just like more than midway.
That's kind of it Just to holdboth my hands.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Okay, Finbar.
Pregame routine.
Speaker 4 (22:29):
Kind of it starts the night before.
I eat chicken parm every nightbefore and then I do this kind
of stretching routine and thenthat's really it.
Speaker 1 (22:38):
That's a good routine with some chicken parm in it.
Coach most underrated skill inlacrosse.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Picking up brown balls.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Luke favorite trick shot.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
Got to be the B-T-B.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Our biggest influence on your lacrosse career so far.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Honestly I guess Coach Nimi he's helped me out.
He's been coaching me for abunch of years, so kind of him
helping me out with recruitingand stuff.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Coach, how do you get players locked in for a game?
Speaker 2 (23:11):
What me?
Honestly, last year I didn'teven talk before the games.
I stopped doing it right theday before.
Yeah, yeah, you know I trustthem.
You know, I think every team'sdifferent.
This team certainly has a lotof older players.
I think that they'll I don'tthink they'll need me, you know,
and even last year, the year Istopped talking before the games
(23:32):
and I did it the day beforebecause I just wanted to say
what needed to be said and letthem do what they're supposed to
do.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
They trust them.
Oh yeah, definitely, luke.
When did you start playinglacrosse?
Speaker 3 (23:42):
Probably when I was like three and my dad played.
So yeah, just whenever I couldstand.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
Started young Finbar favorite sports besides lacrosse
.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
Football Football besides lacrosse Ah, football
Football, yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
You should have known that.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Coach, what has been your most memorable moment of
coaching here at Fairfield Prep?
Speaker 2 (23:59):
Oh, besides.
Well, just boy, that's a toughone.
Besides, I mean the statechampionship game actually last
year would probably be that,honestly, it was probably the
game the SEC championship afterJunior McGrath died, the game
the SEC championship afterJunior McGrath died.
Just the way the guys handledthat was special.
Speaker 1 (24:18):
I remember seeing online when that happened there
was a rainbow over one of thegames in the sky, yeah that was
special the way the kids handledthemselves that night and the
way they went about it.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
I'll never forget that.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
Yeah, that had to be a very difficult time, yeah.
So lastly, on the Glory Dayspodcast, we always like to wrap
up by asking what do you thinkthe purpose of high school
sports is?
Speaker 2 (24:40):
I'm gonna go last or first.
Why don't you guys go?
Speaker 3 (24:42):
first your choice um, I think, just do the most
sports as you can.
I mean, I think that, like,every like you only have, you
only have this cliche, but youonly live once.
So, like, do the most sportsyou can.
I think it really teaches youlife lessons.
Throughout each season you gothrough football, lacrosse,
whatever it is, basketball.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Definitely.
That's a great answer.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
Yeah, I think we kind of touched on this earlier, but
just kind of the relationshipsthat you're building.
I mean especially FairfieldPrep.
All the kids pretty much allare not our whole team, but a
lot of the kids grow up together, play sports together and we're
all best friends.
So being able to play with yourbest friends and go out and
chase state championships issomething you can't really
forget, so it's awesome.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
That's awesome memories to have for the rest of
your life too.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
I would say I think sports teaches you how to work
and the kids that work get achance to find out how good they
are, for better or for worse.
I think they interviewed me in23 and I said this to the guy
from Game Time.
I said you know, the work youput in as an athlete is what
makes you a man, and not everykid gets to be go to Michigan or
(25:48):
go to Rutgers or play Maryland,like that right.
And some kids like they work ashard as they can and they maybe
never play, but they find outhow good they are with the work
and I think the work defines youand so I think that's what high
school sports teaches people.
It's a hard lesson sometimesfor some kids.
You know they don't get thesame stuff that these guys get,
but they also find out who theyare and I think that's probably
(26:09):
the most important lesson kidscan get out of it.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
That's a great answer .
Those values are so importantto take for the rest of your
life.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
No doubt.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Thank you all for joining me on the podcast today.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
You did great Thank you Best of luck this season.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
I hope you're able to come out with a back-to-back.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
We're going to try.
We're going to try.
Thanks for having us, of course.
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