With a new slogan of “win the day,” the Mavericks seniors are hungrier than ever, and they are making sure no one gets complacent.
The Mavericks were complacent at times last year even though they went 10-8 last year. The seniors are determined to make this season different and it starts with them.
This season, Colorado Mesa University (CMU) is determined to change the outcome from the 2019 season, and it starts with the seniors.
“This is the very first year that I’ve ever had senior leaders bring the team back early, we practiced for the very first time as a lacrosse program on January 11th, well, all the guys got back on the fifth of January and had a week of running, lifting and captains practices that they organized themselves,” CMU Head Coach Vince Smith said. “Again, that is a first for me being here at Mesa, and I think that shows the type of leadership that this class has.”
CMU returns three midfielders, three defenders and two goalies for their 2020 season. Midfielders Joe Wulforst IV and Johnny Cary are two of the captains this year, and their leadership for the freshmen will help the CMU offense explode this season.
Cary, Wulforst IV and James Booth bolster the offense with knowledge, effort and hunger. All three make sure that winning the day is a priority for the team in the locker room so that when they get on the field they are ready to fly around the field.
The Mavericks have nine seniors on the team including graduate transfer attackman Booth from Belmont Abbey University (BAU).
Booth comes into CMU as the third-leading scorer for BAU in 2019 and the lone true attackman of this senior class. Booth is versatile on the offensive end as he leads the Mavericks in assists with five and is their second-leading scorer.
“I believe my role of leadership on this team is based around my knowledge and IQ on lacrosse,” Booth said. “I think guys have responded to me looking to teach certain aspects not because I am a natural leader but because of my experience in college and having played in conference championships and NCAA Tournament games.”
The Mavericks have leaders in every positional group, but they have five on the defensive end. Two of those are their goaltenders Christian Cherry and Remi Reeves. They both have been the starters for this team, and they have experienced winning Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Championships and losing them.
“I’ve been trying to figure out what type of leader I am this year,” Reeves said. “Each leader of this team holds a different part and mine is to be the “mean guy”. I come off kind of stern and mad, but I have a ton of passion for the game and want perfection when we step on the field. I think the younger guys see that and want to match that intensity.”
Cherry is one of the best leaders on the team and has taken the time to help his teammates with the day to day operations of the team.
“The other seniors have been fantastic in integrating me into the offense and the team as a whole. Guys like Christian Cherry and others have guided me to understand how and why they do things here as well as their expectations day in and day out,” Booth said.
The Mavericks are prepared to outwork every team in the nation, and it starts with winning the day. CMU is hungry and their seniors are leading the charge on winning the day.
“This senior class is willing to give up the individual awards and time to win something for the program and logo on the jersey. We want it this year,” Reeves said.
