Interview - D1 Washington Players O'Neill and Snider

Today, very few high school athletes earn the chance at an NCAA Division 1 sport in college. An even smaller percentage is allowed to play Lacrosse at that level creating a very unique fraternity within the community.

Recently I was able to sit down with Shane O’Neil and Drew Snider both of whom are products of Washington state high school lacrosse playing at the D1 level. Follow along as I ask them what it takes to be a Division 1 athlete, thoughts on being a sophomore, Fall Ball, season goals and anything else I could get out of these local products. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Seattle’s finest

Name: Drew Snider (DS)

High School: O’Dea

College: University of Maryland

Position & Number: Midfield, 32

Name: Shane O’Neill (SO)

High School: Seattle Prep

College: Cornell

Position & Number:  Midfield number 50

WALAX: What are your feelings about going back to School this fall as sophomore verses last year, when you were both freshman?

DS: I have definitely matured more both physically and mentally. When I was going in last year, I really had no idea of what to expect, this year is the complete opposite. Last year was important for me because I learned a lot about the game of lacrosse in general as well as my personal game. This summer was important because I knew exactly what I needed to improve on.

SO: I feel like this year has been a much easier transition. As a freshman you were pretty nervous because you were thrown into a completely new environment 3,000 miles away from home. You didn’t know what to expect whether it be the workouts, practice, or classes. Now, as a sophomore I am real excited to go back to school. You know what you are going back to. Things are less stressful. 

WALAX: Dorm or house?

DS: Fortunately, I did get the opportunity to live in one of the two lacrosse houses this year. Seniors Rob Morrison Chris Rhine and junior Casey Creaney kindly took me and my roommate, Ryan Young, under their wings.

SO: I am living in an apartment off campus with 3 other teammates.

WALAX: Did you stay in touch with teammates over the summer?

 SO: Yeah. Our team has an e-mail list serve with the whole team on it. So we stayed in touch through that. Guys would send e-mails about how they were doing and funny stories that had happened during the summer. I also saw some teammates at a few camps I worked this summer too.

DS: Of course. I scrimmaged against fellow Terps Ryan Young, Max Schmidt, and Tony Mendes when they came to Seattle this summer at Mercer Island high school. They traveled here with the USA U-19 team before they competed in the world games up in Canada. My good friend Warren Hansen as well flew out to the northwest for a week to help run the Elite 80 camp.

WALAX: What kind of offseason workout program does your school provide and how essential is following that program to making an impact on your team?

DS: Before I left school last year our strength and conditioning coach gave all of us a packet of what we needed to complete over the summer. It consisted of workouts three days a week as well as conditioning four days a week. On the lacrosse side of things, we had to hit the wall at least 4 times a week and for shooting our coach told us to shoot as much as possible.

SO: Our school provides us with a very detailed workout program which includes a regiment of lifting, conditioning, and agility drills. It is very essential to follow the programs if you want to make an impact on our team. Right when we come back we are tested on our strength, speed, body fat, and conditioning so it is imperative that you follow the program. Coaches pay close attention to the results and they can tell whether or not you have made the commitment. If you have, you will have a chance to play and vice versa.

WALAX: Hardest part about Fall Ball?

SO: The hardest part about fall ball is probably the conditioning. We train very hard during the fall in preparation for the season.

DS: The conditioning by far.

WALAX: What are some things you will do differently or keep the same this year in preparing for the season?

SO:  I think I will just do the same thing as last year and just work hard. I came to school freshmen year with a chip on my shoulder because I was from Seattle so I felt like I had something to prove. I think that my mentality paid off so I hope to keep it going. Hard work leads to success.

DS: I will definitely work on my stick skills more by myself.

WALAX: Current stick of choice?

DS: Head: STX Proton Power, Shaft: Scorpion Rouge.

SO: I am currently playing with a proton power and a sci-ti. Best combo in the game of lacrosse right now.

WALAX: Do you or your teammates pay attention to pre-season write ups, magazines, shows etc....?

DS: Yes, bragging rights and egos are pretty big at Maryland

SO: I don’t think that we pay much attention to that stuff. We just focus on the stuff that we can do to get ready for the season. Maybe if they make predictions that we are going to do poorly that season I think it provides motivation for us, but besides that I don’t think they play a role on our team. Those predictions never really turn out right anyway so I just ignore them.

WALAX: What are your personal and team goals for this season?

SO: My goal is to do whatever it takes to win the national championship.

DS: Personally, I would like to be a second line middie. I would also like to faceoff some this year. As of right now our team is only focused on winning the ACC tournament this year. Of course after that we are planning on making a run at the national title. Which I think is possible if our younger players, especially sophomores, fill their big roles. I also have to include, beating Hopkins.

WALAX: What advice would you give young Seattle area lacrosse players, like you once were, about staying in shape and preparing yourself for the season in the fall?

DS: Try to do something to improve your game every day. Start by thinking to yourself, what do I need to work on today?? Whatever it may be, put aside 45 minutes of your time, maybe right after you get home from school, in the morning, go practice that one thing. If you put it the work now, you will be rewarded when the season comes around.

SO: I would say that take full advantage of the fall. It is probably the most important season besides the spring. I would definitely try and get as much stick work and practice in as possible. I know Walax is offering some great programs for the fall and I would advise on doing that. The more repetitions and practice you get, the better you will be in the spring. Just continue to lift and condition so when spring comes you will be ready to tear it up.