How did sophomore lacrosse attackman Kyle Wharton score five goals on Saturday? Some might say skill. Some - including Wharton himself - may say it was luck. But I, along with his teammates, think the secret to Wharton's success is a little bit of skill, a little bit of luck and a little bit of ... passion.
As this sophomore takes the field this season, expect a different kind of Blue Jay than last year. "I've become a more passionate man," Wharton claimed. As his performance this season shows, his growing comfort and love for the game manifests itself in goal after goal.
At night, he strings sticks for hours on end, according to teammates. "He strings around 12 sticks a week just to focus himself," sophomore midfielder Matt Dolente said. Wharton, according to Dolente, is on a quest to create the perfect shooting pocket. Many nights the two of them string together on their futon.
I don't know of many athletes whose love for the game spreads beyond the court, beyond their teammates, to their very equipment, but Wharton's passion leaves no aspect of the game behind. When asked what he loves about lacrosse, Wharton responded: "I don't know ... everything?"
This love pays off every weekend. Wharton scored three goals against Siena in the season opener and two against and Hofstra last week. By practicing almost everyday, Wharton and his team hope to keep the momentum going.
This also includes spicing up practices with a good amount of fun. "I like to have a good time during practice," Wharton said. "Sometimes when people are down we have to institute what we in the biz like to call 'Smile Time.'"
Smile Time extends beyond the field, for Wharton and his teammates. "I could tell each one of them that they are in my top 47 best friends, and I wouldn't be lying," he said, adding, "Some are in my favorite five, though."
One thing Wharton and his teammates enjoy is a good old birthday party, complete with cake, ice cream and candles. Wharton prefers vanilla cake, chocolate frosting and Haagen Dazs Caramel Cone ice cream.
And by prefer, I mean passionately adore. Did you know our Athlete of the Week can consume an entire 9 by 13 birthday cake? "I've been training my whole life to take down a whole birthday cake," he said. If that's not a sign of passion, I'm not sure what is.
When his mouth's not full of cake, Wharton also enjoys singing. "He hits every note to perfection," junior defender Max Levine said. Wharton's favorite song is "Love Today" by Mika (Michael Holbrook Penniman). "Love Today" was nominated as the Best Dance Song in the 2008 Grammys, and Mika was titled "The New Queen of Pop," in an edition of Out magazine.
Though Wharton may never reach the status of dance pop icon Mika, he doesn't seem to be bothered. For him, fulfilling his passions is simple. In a lacrosse game, for instance, popularity is the last thing on his mind. "I think about how much fun I'm having!" he said enthusiastically. For singing and cake, he only seeks the company of his 47 best friends.
The Jays are three and one right now and stepping up to take on the toughest season in the nation, according to Inside Lacrosse.
The stringing, singing and cake could help achieve this goal. Mixed with practice and a good amount of Smile Time, it's likely. If Wharton and his 47 men remain passionate, however, it's a definite yes.
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