ST. LEO, FLA – Usually when high school athletes advance to the university level they struggle with no longer being the best player on the field.
But Saint Leo freshman Ethan Ticehurst is no ordinary lacrosse player.
The former Coquitlam Adanacs captain back in B.C., starred during his time in the Western Lacrosse Association where he was a provincial box All Star and led his team to a silver medal.
One of his biggest fans is Brad Jorgenson, the Saint Leo men’s lacrosse head coach.
“I already think that Ethan is one of the best long stick (midfielders) in the conference – no doubt,” Jorgeson said. “He’s already a threat, he’s already a really good player. So I’m excited to see what the ceiling is on him.”
During his last season before heading for Florida, Ticehurst scored 17 goals and had seven assists in 17 games with the Adanacs. He collected his first university point in just his third game, an assist on a Charlie Kurtenbach goal.
“It was a pretty good feeling,” said Ticehurst said, before practice on Wednesday. “So it was a good feeling to get it, get the boys going, get a little momentum.”
The Coquitlam native does not think his freshman status prevents him from providing leadership on and off the lacrosse field.
“When someone is not doing what they need to be doing, I give them a little push, from my experience as a captain, ” Ticehurst said. “I don’t think because I’m a freshman I don’t need to open my mouth – I tell guys what they need to hear.”
His head coach also believes in Ticehurst’s ability to lead by example.
“When a guy works that hard, even though he’s one of the most talented guys on the team, he still outworks a lot of the guys,” said Jorgenson.”And that tends to bleed out to a lot of the other guys and rub off on (other players).”
For Ticehurst his passion for lacrosse is something he would like to continue to pursue as long as possible.
“One of the big reasons I came to Saint Leo was so I can continue to play (lacrosse),” Ticehurst said. “It’s what I do. I don’t really do anything else but play lacrosse.
“I play year round, going every day and grinding it out.”