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Hard Work Earns Lacrosse Standout Ticket To Syracuse
By Whitelaw Reid July 7, 2004 CARLSBAD – A question engraved on Sean McGonigle's lacrosse stick explains exactly how he accomplished what few thought he could: How hard would you play today if you couldn't play tomorrow? "I saw it on a guy's T-shirt at a (lacrosse) camp and just really liked it," McGonigle said. McGonigle, who graduated from La Costa Canyon High last month, has lived by the motto ever since he decided to make lacrosse his sport of choice in the seventh grade. It's the reason he has earned a scholarship to play at Syracuse University, the most prestigious program in the country. "I just like the fact that since I started and set a goal of playing (Division I), there were a lot of people who said to me, 'You'll never be able to play back East,' " McGonigle said. McGonigle has spent countless hours playing what he calls "wall ball" on the tennis courts at La Costa Canyon, firing shots off the cinder-block walls at the rear of the courts. Near the end of one court is a street lamp that McGonigle said allowed him to play many times at night. "There's no way I would have the stick skills that I have if I hadn't been coming out here," said McGonigle, who lives just a few blocks from the courts. "I bring out my MP3 player and make a (target) out of duct tape. "I hate playing catch with people. I do it at practice, but I'd much rather come out and play wall ball because you get the repetition." McGonigle, a Union-Tribune All-San Diego Section choice the last two years, stands out on the field because of his aggressive style. "He's a tough kid. That's your first impression of him," said Torrey Pines coach Jody Sillstrop. "He throws very accurate checks. Sometimes you think they're coming out of nowhere, but they always end up in the right spot." McGonigle and the Mavericks lost to Torrey Pines in the section final the last two years. McGonigle said not winning a championship was the biggest disappointment of his high school career. "That's what you work for," McGonigle said. "No matter how good your personal accomplishments are you need the rest of your teammates to win. We were just never able to put it together. "I think it was pretty much mental when we played Torrey. Skills-wise I would say we matched up, but it was just like, 'It's Torrey Pines.' Everything just seemed so much bigger." McGonigle recently played in a high school all-star game in St. Louis. He said it was good preparation for what he will be seeing in college. "Everyone was just like 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds," said the 5-10, 185-pound McGonigle. "You're just sitting there and you're like, 'Wow!' But I think I held my own. I was always on their best midi." McGonigle, who says hitting the weights will be a key to his success in college, will be rooming with an arch rival – Torrey Pines goalie Jake Myers. "I think it's going to be really fun," McGonigle said. "We'll both be in the same exact situation. I was excited when I heard he was going because we'll both be going through the same culture shock and it will be nice to have someone from my hometown to reminisce with." McGonigle said he's excited to begin his college career – even though he may have to invest in some long johns. "I'll be waking up and running, going to class and then having practice and lifting weights," McGonigle said. "It will be a 24-7 thing." Just the way he likes it.
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