New Local Nathan Kenney Enters the Seattle Lacrosse Revolution

So Nate, what brought you out to Seattle?

My roommate Tommy came to visit me in Syracuse while I was working on m y masters, and while visiting, he got a call to come out here for a job.  When he decided to come, he gave me an invitation to come out as well. I thought about it, talked about it too much, then decided I just had to do it.

I wasn't distant, I just needed a break from the game. After college, I wanted to collect myself, but love of the sport, wanting to still play, and passing on the "goodness" of Lacrosse to kids seemed best in coaching.

I started on a team called Three Village Lacrosse on Long Island as a feeder program for Ward-Melville, a great High School program in New York. I would play every position I could, picking up a stick at 5 years old.  At the time, may have been one of the best youth leagues in the country. My dad started the league with some cohorts, who I only know as Mr. Banks and Mr. Sculley- what I used to call them at that age <smile>.

I would say youth Lacrosse in Long Island was more established in the community, kids could go to local Division I schools and play for their home town and coach as well.  I think Long Island has more local people coming back to give back to the game, coaching at a younger age, offering a much more attainable dream to play in college. The disparity of the growth here, is that though every coach may be positive and wants to give back, they don't have the benefit of the high level players returning at a young age to help yet. Plus, that tribal Lacrosse knowledge plays a factor. "My older brother played Lacrosse, so I played Lacrosse" was pretty common on teams I played on.  Another thing, football rivalries were really Lacrosse rivalries first in New York. Some places would actually have a homecoming during Fall AND during the Spring, because the Lacrosse games would have five thousand people attending and it was THE game to watch.

What made you decide to try your hand at Professional Lacrosse?

It was the Hawaii tournament with the team called the Decepticons. I ran into a bunch of players that were good friends of mine growing up and in college, and they encouraged me.  The idea that I can play at a high level after college, and my generation of players is playing in the leagues now, seemed possible I guess. It was also the motivation of having guys that thought I could play, and understood the opportunity suggest that I should do it- so now I can do it for them too. Johnny Christmas, one of my closest friends, encouraged me to play in Hawaii, and with the US losing the title to Canada, I wanted to go after it for the sake of the level of Lacrosse in the US. John Grant, Jr. talked to me at half time of one of the games, and I asked his opinion about playing pro ball, and whether I should or could play, and he said, "yeah, you should o for it." Mad respect from one of the best players in the world. I still want to play for love of the game, and contribute to the growth nationally.  I know I have to get a "job", and take advantage of my degrees, but I am a Lacrosse player. I have to play. I found all these other things through Lacrosse, not instead of Lacrosse.

Denver decided to pick you up in the draft, why play in Denver? Are you still looking at Staying in Seattle during the MLL experience?

Why Denver? They found me. They thought I was the style of player they could utilize. For me, they have great ownership, they get a huge amount of fans, they have a team vibe that I really like, and they have the best transition game in the league, and that is my style.

Playing for Syracuse and ripping the net in the final four game against my old team, UVA. I celebrated on my shot right away, and starting walking back to mid line. I noticed all the defensemen, and officials gathering around to discuss the goal, trying to decide if it was a goal.  Then the shot went up on the big screen, and in slow motion, the goal I scored was actually a shot ripping the net. I looked up and saw all the fans screaming- It was just surreal, but what an amazing feeling... and it was against UVA<smirk>

You can catch Nate at the shoot to score clinic coming up this weekend, at any Starz event, Walax indoor or over on Vashon where he will be a Lacrosse fellow this season.  Be sure to ask him what his favorite band is...