Rylan Weisbrod

The thrill of college sports; the level of competitiveness, the travel, the camaraderie, the shared goals and the life experience all are intriguing to me. Seeing my sister achieve her goal of playing lacrosse at the D-1 level has been thrilling for all of us and I hope to achieve the same for myself.

Choices are mine to make all the time. I choose to practice when others are enjoying free time. I choose to eat healthily when others are eating junk. I choose to rest when others are staying up late. My health is a priority for me always. I don't pollute my body and I don't abuse it with anything other than hard exercise. I know younger players look up to older players. I did and still do. I know that my behaviour influences younger players and also influences my teammates. It's easy to make good decisions when you are committed to your goals.

I am a multi-sport player. I have played ice hockey for 12 years. I played soccer for many years. Football, rugby, basketball, baseball are all sports I have played as well. I love skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking too. There are not enough hours in a day for the sports I love to play but lacrosse is my life. It is the one sport I won't set aside to accommodate another. Playing many sports has exposed me to many different coaches and coaching styles. I learned from them all. It has also helped me to develop a strong 'sports IQ' All of my coaches have remarked on my 'ability to see a game well' and to 'be where I need to be' on the field, in the box, on the ice, wherever the situation applies. Playing sports is gruelling at times but is never a chore; always a privilege.

I volunteer with my home association, the Delta Lacrosse Association. I have coached lacrosse through their Elementary School Program for the past 5 years with my sister. I also volunteer for their 'Introduction to Lacrosse' clinics where I demonstrate the sport of lacrosse and encourage new players to love the sport as I do. Mentorship is strong throughout the sport. When I was a new player, our local pro, Logan Schuss, gave his time to me and my teammates. His attention had a profound impact on me and I wish to inspire young players to love the sport in the same way that he did and continues to do for me. Later on, I enjoyed personal coaching from Ryland Rees, Curtis Dickson and Tyler Pace in addition to Logan. It is a thrill when the players who inspire you, spend time with you.