Captain of the boys’ varsity lacrosse team, Scott O’Leary (I) has been a member of the squad since coming to Milton his Class III year. Scott will tell you that this year’s team has a “new feel” to it—a lot of new players, and a new coach (Corey Simonson, of Milton’s Middle School faculty). The scene may be different, but with a winning record so far this season, Scott says, “the vibe is good.”

Scott has been playing lacrosse for over eight years, and is drawn to the fast pace of the sport: “You have to stay on your toes when you’re on the lacrosse field,” he says. With the quick action, the ball can be turned over quickly, and players often have to think on their feet rather than rely on set plays. The boys have to work well as a team, which means that knowing each other well and recognizing each other’s strengths and weaknesses is crucial.

“The team is like an extended family here at Milton,” says Scott. “The same is true in the dorms—you become really close with the guys you live with and the guys on your team, because you’re working together with the same goals in mind. Both of those groups—my teammates and the guys in Wolcott—have been a big part of my Milton experience.

“One of the things I’ve learned being on a team is the importance of communication. You can’t talk at the other guys; you have to talk with them. It’s not helpful to say, ‘You’re doing this wrong.’ You have to be positive and offer ideas of what they can work on so they can progress and improve.

“Becoming a leader on the team as you get older is a natural progression—whether that leadership role is official or unofficial. You need the mentorship of older players when you’re younger, and as an older player you know how important that was to you when you were new. The guys on the team really step up. On the field we try to model the level of play that the younger guys should be aiming for—it’s a big jump from j.v. to varsity. Off the field, the friendships that we have with the younger guys are hugely important, for all of us.”

The team’s goal every year is to do better than they did the year before. With a record of 3–2 and a victory over Belmont Hill (one of the “big guns,” Scott says), the boys are already on their way into a strong season.

 

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